Party Primaries Tuesday

On Tuesday, registered party members in local towns will choose their candidates for November's general elections.

An interesting campaign season has already begun to unfold in Manasquan, where two council seats as well as the position of mayor will be on the line in November.

Mayor George Dempsey, a Democrat, will run for re-election against Councilwoman Patricia Connolly, a Republican.

The terms of two current councilmen, Joe Lucas, a Republican, and Jeff Lee, a Democrat, are both set to expire at the end of this year. Lee announced immediately that he would not seek re-election.

Lucas had intended to run for re-election during primary season and filed a petition. The councilman later removed himself from the race, claiming he no longer wished to run. Soon after, however, Lucas announced that if he received the nomination by write-in, he would run.

Republican Richard Norris is also seeking his party's nomination for a seat on the borough council, as are two former councilmen, Democrats Joe Bossone and Michael Mangan.

No independents have filed as of Monday.

Polls in Manasquan will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Polling locations are borough hall, the first aid building and both fire houses.

In Belmar, four candidates will seek their party's nomination as they vie for two seats on the borough council.

The seat of Republican Councilman Richard Wright, who has chosen not to seek re-election, and the seat of Democratic Councilwoman Jennifer Nicolay, who was appointed by Mayor Matt Doherty in January to finish out his council term, are both up for grabs.

Nicolay will seek the Democratic nomination, as will Concetta Gutierrez. Republicans James Bean Jr. and Steven Edelman will seek the nod from their parties. No independents have filed as of Monday.

Polls in Belmar will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. Polling locations are the borough's three fire houses as well as the borough's public works building on 13th Avenue.