Brick Council Campaign Draws to a Close

Four Democrat challengers will attempt to oust four Republican incumbents in order to win control of the township's governing body in Tuesday's election.

The seven member township council is currently occupied by all Republicans. In order for Democrats to win a majority, all four of their candidates must come out victorious at the polls Tuesday.

As the campaign drew to a close, candidates from both sides said they felt confident.

"I feel very positive," said Brian DeLuca, the incumbent council president who is up for re-election. "I've been walking door to door, and a lot of people are very happy with the direction of the revenue we're going to be generating" for the township through various projects.

John Ducey, one of the candidates on the Democrat side of the aisle, said last week that his team had "the issues on our side" and that he believes both Democrat and Republican voters will be voting for he and his running mates. Ducey said the Democratic candidates have also been going door-to-door.

Both sides rallied the troops on their respective Facebook pages over the weekend.

"Thank you to all our volunteers that came out this weekend. The turnout was amazing. We can not do this without your support. Victorious Tuesday, here we come!!!!" was the status on the Democrats' "Brick Deserves Better" page Sunday night.

"For State Senator, Assembly, Freeholder and Council, VOTE COLUMN 'A' ALL THE WAY!!!" was the status heading into the weekend on the Brick Republican Club page.

The Republicans also took a jab at former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, a Democrat, who stepped down after the firm he joined after being defeated by GOP Governor Chris Christie collapsed last week.

Democrats have accused township Republicans of practicing cronyism during their reign over the council and have painted a target on the back of Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis for holding two full-time jobs. They have pledged to cut Acropolis' salary from $53,000 to $15,000 if he does not give up a job as Toms River MUA chairman. They also criticized the hiring and subequent pay increase given to Deputy Administrator Juan Bellu. The Democrats have promised an operational audit of the township if elected, and to end what they call "no bid" contracts for professional services.

Republicans have touted their record of reducing the township's payroll by 90 employees and successfully obtaining grants for projects such as the Traders Cove Marina park development, which they say will eventually generate revenue for the township. DeLuca, at the Oct. 25 township council meeting, also said the council overseeing the final cap and closure of French's Landfill, an issue in town for decades, was a positive achievement. The council plans to eventually turn the former Superfund site into a solar field, which they say will generate money to defray the property tax burden.

Republicans also took aim at what they saw as character flaws in the Democratic candidates, when things as flyers and newspaper advertisements put out by the GOP began to circulate.

The Democrats countered that Republicans were "desperate" and resorted to personal attacks to divert attention from rising property tax rates over the last several years, including a 24 percent increase in the municipal portion of tax bills this year after voters passed a referendum allowing the township to exceed a state cap.

Voters in Brick's 57 voting districts will hit the polls Tuesday between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Generally, the outcome of the election is known within an hour or so after the polls close. To find your polling place, consult the sample ballot mailed to your home by the Ocean County Clerk's office or check out this PDF file from the clerk's website.

On election night, make sure to come to Brick Patch for live results, and reaction from the candidates.

To get caught up on where each candidate stands on the issues, check out the , which were posted on Brick Patch last week.