Kimberly Karalovich and Gail Oliver
By PETE WALTON
Democrats have regained control of the Neptune City Borough Council.
According to early results released by Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon, Gail L. Oliver and Kimberly Karalovich are leading their Republican opponents, Deborah Galindo and incumbent Councilman Dana Farley.
Oliver leads in the preliminary results with 1225 votes, followed by Karalovich with 1215, Farley with 1136 and Galindo with 1097.
Oliver and Karalovich will serve three-year terms, joining fellow Democrats Pamela Renee and Glen Kocsis in a 4-2 council majority.
Brian J. Thomas and Danielle Pappas are the two Republicans on the six-member council.
Democrat Rachel McGreevy was elected last year to serve a four-year term as mayor. She is the borough’s first female mayor and first Democratic mayor.
Under Neptune City’s form of government, the mayor presides over meetings but only casts a vote in the event of a tie.
Democrats also held a 4-2 majority in 2021 while Republican Andrew Wardell served as mayor.
Oliver is a former AT&T employee and veteran election poll worker who founded a nonprofit which helped to improve neglected areas of nearby Neptune Township.
“I am an African American woman, and representation of our diverse community matters,” Oliver said. “I would like to see a more diverse governing body to be more equivalent of what our town currently looks like. I will work with our governing body to be as fiscally responsible as possible.”
“I have dedicated my life to advocating for underserved communities, which has shaped my deep commitment to public service,” Karalovich said. “My volunteer work as a firefighter, EMT, adaptive ski instructor, youth counselor, foster care advocate, and LGBTQ activist has given me a profound understanding of the importance of community support and inclusivity.”
Board of Education
Former Democrat councilman David Calhoun was elected to a three-year term on the Neptune City Board of Education, along with Drisana Lashley and Kimberly Bale, according to the early returns. However, apparent fourth place finisher Erica Connor trails Bale by just 17 votes. Michele McGuigan placed fifth.
No one filed to run for a one-year unexpired term on the board. A total of 115 write-in votes were cast for the unexpired term, according to the preliminary results. The county clerk must review the write-ins before a result can be announced.
Hanlon said the unofficial results included votes cast at early voting machines in 10 locations around the county. Mail-in ballots received by Election Day on Tues., Nov. 5 were also tallied. Still being counted were ballots placed in drop boxes on Election Day, late mail-in ballots, and provisional votes.
