2 Democrats Still Leading In Tight Manasquan Council Election

MANASQUAN - Two Democrats – Michael Mangan, the council president, and Councilman Jeffrey Lee – were still leading Republican Patricia Connolly in the tight race for two seats on the council.

Monmouth County officials said approximately 97 percent of election night/mail-in ballots have been processed. Approximately 48 percent of ADA machine ballots have been processed. Provisional ballots are pending.

Here was the vote breakdown as of Wednesday:

• Democrat Jeffrey K. Lee 2,196; 35.97 percent
• Democrat Michael W. Mangan 1,964; 32.17 percent
• Republican Patricia Connolly 1,932; 31.65 percent

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Mangan said he believes his that his experience and passion for service "provide me with a unique perspective on how to best bring government resources to bear during times of need."

"Equally important, I am a firm believer in having the most transparent and efficient government possible – that means stability in the tax rate and fees," he said. "It also means that we are honest about the financial challenges in achieving the improvements for the community: parks and roads."

Connolly said she would use public referendum on any costly proposal, restrain from inflated expenditures that add to the debt responsibility and "use my financial education and years of business experience and governing body experience to build good government before politics."

See our full election coverage for New Jersey on our topic page.