MANASQUAN — Democrat Michael Mangan led Republican Gregg Olivera by 22 votes, 1,045 to 1,023, in the Manasquan mayoral race, according to unofficial tallies reported by the Monmouth County Board of Elections as of Sunday.
Still to be counted are late mail-in ballots, provisional ballots and cure letters.
The two councilmen are competing to succeed outgoing Mayor Edward Donovan, a Democrat who did not seek reelection.
Mr. Mangan campaigned alongside the two council candidates, Jay Bryant and Sheila Vidreiro, who were unopposed in their races. Both are Democrats.
“We feel pretty confident,” said Mr. Mangan Tuesday night. “Obviously, there’s still a few results to come in. We feel pretty good. I think that the votes that still have to come in are going to come in our favor.”
If his lead holds and he is elected, Mr. Mangan said his priority will be “following through on what we campaigned on … getting control over overdevelopment and two-way communication with the residents.”
“Obviously there’s still votes to be counted,” Mr. Olivera said Tuesday night. “We’ll see what happens. I’m pleased with the results of the voting today. I’m a little disappointed with the early voting. We’ve got some votes out there to be counted. I think it’s going to be a couple days.”
If he wins, he said his priority will be to focus on his campaign promises, which he has previously listed as including addressing overdevelopment and continuing the tradition of treating the mayoral office “with the respect it deserves.”
Mr. Mangan is currently serving his fifth term on the borough council and is the liaison for the tourism commission and recreation committee.
He received a bachelor’s degree in communications from George Washington University, and he owns Endurance Sports Floors, Endurance Squash Courts and MWM Communications, all based in Manasquan.
Mr. Olivera is currently serving his fourth term on the borough council and is the chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee. He also sits on both the Public Safety and the Code and Land Use Committees. He served on the tourism commission for 15 years. If not elected mayor, he said he would return to his council seat, as his term began in January of this year and does not expire until December of 2025.
He earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Stony Brook University and a master of business administration degree in finance and international business from Seton Hall University. He currently works as the deputy director of the Division of Purchase and Property of the New Jersey Treasury.
At Manasquan’s Meet the Candidates breakfast on Oct. 28, Mr. Mangan said, “I think you need a mayor who is not only connected with your community but knows how to pull the levers of government, has the time and the experience to do it. I think my record shows that. I think my experience shows that.”
Also at that event, Mr. Olivera said, “I think my diverse experience both in the public and private sector, as well as my charity leadership, gives me a unique perspective that is pretty rare. So as far as I’m concerned, I’m the best candidate.”
Mr. Mangan said he will not make an official declaration of victory yet, saying “in my opinion that’s only done appropriately when all the votes are tallied.” However, he said he feels confident that the remaining votes will be counted in his favor. Whichever candidate wins will serve a four-year term as mayor.
The two Democratic candidates, Mr. Bryant and Ms. Vidreiro, ran unopposed for two borough council seats, which were vacated by Mr. Mangan, who ran for mayor, and Jeff Lee, who did not seek re-election.
Mr. Bryant received 1,336 votes. Ms. Vidreiro received 1,298 votes. Their terms will last three years.
These results are unofficial, as votes are still being counted.
SEE COMPLETE MONMOUTH COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Coast Star—on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
Check out our other Manasquan stories, updated daily. And remember to pick up a copy of The Coast Star—on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
Subscribe today! If you're not already an annual subscriber to The Coast Star, get your subscription today! For just $38 per year, you will receive local mail delivery weekly, with pages and pages of local news and online access to our e-edition on Starnewsgroup.com.
