Republicans in Toms River have maintained control of the town council after William Byrne, 82, defeated Democrat Zach Dougherty, a 23-year-old former Cory Booker intern, for the Ward 2 seat. With Byrne winning by a solid margin—8,330 votes to Dougherty’s 4,693—Republicans keep their narrow 4-3 majority on the council, ensuring they have the upper hand in local decisions, at least for now.
Dougherty’s campaign drew attention due to the support he received from prominent local figures, including former Mayor Terrance Turnbach and former Councilman Kevin Geoghegan, part of a faction that opposes Council President Dan Rodrick’s agenda. But Byrne’s victory cements the influence of Rodrick’s bloc, alongside council members Justin Lamb, Lynne O’Toole, and Craig Coleman, who together now hold the deciding votes on key issues.
Interestingly, a divide persists within the Republican camp. Rodrick’s allies continue to push back against downtown development projects, while three Hill-aligned Republicans—David Ciccozzi, Tom Nivison, and James Quinlisk—support moving these plans forward. This power struggle signals that Toms River’s council chambers might remain a battleground for local development and policy, even with a Republican majority in place.
For now, Byrne’s win keeps the council under Republican control, but the internal dynamics mean each vote could be a tightrope, especially as factions clash over the town’s future.
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