Brick GOP Endorses Sangiovanni as Mayoral Candidate

Joseph Sangiovanni has been endorsed by the Brick Township Republican Club to be its mayoral candidate in 2013.

Sangiovanni, 63, currently a township councilman, will face a primary challenge from fellow Republican councilman Dan Toth, 36, who was nominated by the party's screening committee but did not receive the club's endorsement.

Sangiovanni said his campaign would focus on rebuilding Brick "with the least impact to the taxpayers."

"I personally think that these next four years will be challenging for any mayor, and it's going to require that you have some special skills to get through it," he said.

Toth said he will remain in the primary race despite failing to receive the club's endorsement.

"I expected the results to be what they were, so going into the meeting last night was no surprise," said Toth, on Tuesday.

"I expect it to be civil," Toth said of the primary race. "I don't have one bad thing to say about Joe and I'm sure he doesn't have one bad thing to say against me."

Toth said he would bring "accessibility, honesty, integrity and devotion" to the office of mayor if elected.

Candidates Selected for Council Race

The candidates for three open seats on the township council have also been selected by the Republican organization.

Incumbent councilman Domenick Brando, 45, will seek re-election. His running mates will be current Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority alternate commissioner John Ciocco, 48, and Victoria Chadwick, 26, who previously served on the Board of Adjustment.

Brando is a retired police officer, Ciocco is in the home health care business and Chadwick is a substitute teacher, party officials said.

"One of the things that convinced me to run again was the fact that there is so much going on with Sandy," said Brando. "Joe [Sangiovanni] and myself are both right in the middle of it, we're living it."

Getting families back in their homes and stabilizing the tax rate following Sandy will be central campaign issues, Brando said.

"We are going to have some tough times in the next couple of years with the tax rate after losing so many homes, so we're going to have to do some creative thinking," he said. "No matter what anybody says, the number one thing on the minds of people, when you speak to them, is taxes.

The primary election will take place June 4.

Brick Township's Democratic organization is expected to announce their candidates over the weekend or early next week.