Local Democrats Declare Victory for Matawan Council Seat
Monmouth County Democratic Chairman says election results in Matawan have been certified by county.
Kimberly Daly will join the Matawan Borough Council in January and Toni Angelini will be sworn in for a second term, according to early results.
Vin Gopal, chairman of the Momouth County Democrats, said the county has sent the results for certification and that the unofficial results on the Monmouth County website reflect the accurate vote count for the Matawan Borough Council elections.
"The Monmouth County Democrats want to congratulate Councilwoman-Elect Kim Daly for breaking the Republican stronghold in Matawan. Democrats beat well-funded Republicans in Famingdale, Hazlet, Eatontown, Spring Lake, Keyport, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands, Belmar, Freehold Borough and many other towns because voters across Monmouth County recognize that our Democratic principles of supporting the middle-class and fighting for taxpayers is what our communities need," Gopal said in a statement via email.
According to the county website, Kimberly Daly (D) is in the lead by one point with 1,699 votes, immediately followed by incumbent Toni Angelini (R). Republican incumbent Andy Lopez received 1,641 votes and a second democratic challenger, Nicholas Nellegar, received 1,611 votes.
Initial results on election night were so close that candidates had to wait for the Monmouth County Clerk's Office to count the high number of residents voting via absentee and mail-in ballots.
In a statement sent via email, Daly thanked the Matawan community for their support.
"The welfare of the citizens of Matawan will always be my primary responsibility. I look forward to joining my fellow councilmembers in the new year. Together we will continue to put Matawan residents first to ensure that we keep our town such a close-knit community," she said.
Matawan Council Election Results
| Democratic Candidate | Results | Republican Candidate | Results |
| Kimberly Daly | 1,699 (25.54%) |
Toni Angelini | 1,698 (25.52%) |
| Nicholas Nellegar | 1,611 (24.21%) |
Andrew Lopez | 1,641 (24.67%) |
Editor's note: Patch will publish the official certified results for all local races when they are available from the county.
anonymous
1:02 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
This is a huge defeat for political strategist and councilman Tom Fitzsimmons. Tom worked as an aide to State Senator Jennifer Beck, who refuses to call for an independent investigation regarding the massive pension fraud at the Sheriff's Department.
http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/14/11690662-gov-christies-pension-issue-nj-probe-looks-at-running-mate-double-dipping
rosemary conte
2:37 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
Tom was doing a really good job and brought experience and wide references to the council. I'm sorry to see him go.
anonymous
3:00 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
Rosemary,
I believe Tom is still in office. This was a political defeat as opposed to a personal defeat. Tom works hard to get fellow Republicans in office; however, shady practices by Republicans in this county has been atroticious--without fellow Republicans speaking out--saying something like: It's wrong. The silence has been deafening. Have you heard one Republican say the below practice is wrong?
http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2011/10/10/the-golden-age-of-double-dipping-in-monmouth-county/
hanyton
3:26 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
It appears that it was Andrew Lopez who was defeated in the election. Tom Fitzsimmons is still serving out the remainder of his term. Did I misread the article?!?
Chelsea Naso
4:13 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
@ Hanyton - You read the article correctly. Andrew Lopez and Toni Angelini were both seeking reelection to the council. Lopez was beaten by Kimberly Daly by about 60 votes.