TOMS RIVER – A candidate who wanted to run for a spot on the Township Council has dropped out of the race.
Kajal Lal, 29, is listed as a banker for Investors Bank on her LinkedIn. She won the primary in June to represent her party in November. She stepped down to take a job in the federal government and by law she can not run for office, according to a message sent to Democrats by local leader Jeff Horn. This message was then sent anonymously to The Toms River Times.
“I would like to thank her for her work with us up until this point and congratulate her on obtaining a new job,” he said, noting that the vacancy will be filled soon. He encouraged people to get involved in local politics and make a difference.
“The other side wants to pit neighbor against neighbor quite literally and we are the vessel in which to prevent them from obtaining victory,” he said.
Horn could not be reached by press time.
According to county information, September 14 is the deadline to replace a primary nominee for the general election.
The Democrats’ slate is led by former Township Committeeman John Furey for mayor. There are three seats on the council up for grabs this year. Board of Education member Michelle Williams and Rhetta Jackson-Fair, a pastor at True Vine Ministries in Bayville, are also running for council.
The Republican slate is headed by Councilman Dan Rodrick for mayor. The council candidates are Tom Nivison, owner of Silverton Farms, Lynn O’Toole, president of adult community Holiday City Silverton Phase II, and longtime educator Craig Coleman, former principal of Ocean County Vocational-Technical School.
Because Rodrick’s team unseated other Republicans in the primary election, there are no incumbents this year.
This is going to be a big election for the town. In addition to half of the municipal governing body being on the ballot, there are three board of education seats available. There are nine members on the board of Education, and they serve three-year terms. The terms are structured so that there are three seats on the ballot every year. The deadline to run for a board seat is July 31.
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