Incumbents Hold Solid Lead In Toms River Regional School Board Election 2026

Updated, 10:15 p.m. Tuesday

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Incumbents Ashley Lamb and James Capone held solid leads in the race for three seats on the Toms River Regional Board of Education, while the third seat appears to be in the hands of Laura Picurro, according to unofficial vote tallies on Tuesday night.

The school board race featured seven candidates seeking three seats representing Toms River on the board. The seats are three-year terms.

Lamb, who was seeking her third term on the board, was leading all vote-getters with 11,363 votes. Capone, who was seeking his second term, had 11,232. Picurro received 10,889. Nearly 2,000 votes were separating Picurro from Elizabeth Huber, one of her running mates, who received 8,997. Anthony Colucci, Picurro's other running mate, received 8,916. Gerard Nappi, who was running with Lamb and Capone, had received 8,692. Kristen Hanson, who was running a solo campaign, had received 5,962.

Vote totals remain unofficial until certified by the Ocean County Clerk's Office later in November.

Lamb is the deputy Ocean County clerk. Capone owns Capone's Pizza and Restaurant downtown. They and Nappi were being challenged by the ticket led by Picurro. Picurro works for Toms River Township as the director of the town's Senior Center. Colucci, from the Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association, has run for council twice, and Huber is a newcomer. That trio was backed by Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick, who has managed campaigns for the Toms River school board for several years now.

Hanson is the former director of special services in the Brick Township Schools.

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