Ciesla Retiring From Senate; Toms River, Brick Council Members to Run For Assembly

State Senator Andrew W. Ciesla (R-10) will step aside at the end of his current term, his office announced Thursday.

According to a spokeswoman at Ciesla's legislative office, the long-time senator from Brick formally announced he was would retire from the Senate after nearly 20 years as a member of the state legislative body when his term ends in 2012.

Assemblyman James Holzapfel (R-10) has received support from local Republican colleagues for his potential bid for the Senate position in the 10th legislative district, a GOP stronghold. In news releases, Ciesla and fellow assemblyman James Wolfe both said they would support Holzapfel to take over Ciesla's seat.

Additionally, Brick Township Councilwoman Ruthanne Scaturro and Toms River Township Council President Gregory McGuckin confirmed Thursday to Patch that each will run for the seat that Holzapfel will presumably vacate.

"I've always been active in the community, and I thought it was the next logical step to serve the people I've become so familiar with," Scaturro, a Republican, said of her prospective campaign bid. "It seems to me that I can additionally help the people who have always been good to me."

Scaturro -- a manager at Ferguson Enterprises, a plumbing products supplier -- has served on the Brick Township council since 2003.

Toms River Council President Gregory P. McGuckin announced Thursday that he will also seek the Republican nomination for Assembly this fall.

"For the past eight years I have worked hard to insure that Toms River remains a safe and affordable community,” McGuckin said in a prepared statement. “Time after time we have faced roadblocks in those efforts because of policies established by a democratic legislature in Trenton which is tone deaf to the residents of Ocean County and the Jersey Shore.”

McGuckin, first elected to the Toms River Council in 2003, was chosen as Council President for the last eight years. He is a graduate of Providence College and has a law degrees from Seton Hall Law School.

Ciesla, 57, also served as a council member in Brick before being elected to the Senate in 1992. From 1994 through 1997, Ciesla, who also works for Ferguson Enterprises as an East Coast Area Manager, served as the Senate's Assistant Majority Leader.

The 10th legislative district includes the municipalities of Brick, Toms River, Point Pleasant Borough, Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head, Mantoloking, Lavallette, Island Heights, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park and South Toms River in Ocean County, and Manasquan in Monmouth County.