TOMS RIVER-Despite some confusion about how to nominate and vote on a new board president and vice president, the Toms River Regional School Board managed to get the vote done at their annual reorganization meeting.
Democratic political operative Ben Giovine will lead the Toms River Regional School Board in 2017 after securing the nomination and election as president by his fellow board members. The board, minus Joe Nardini, Chris Raimann and newly elected board member Daniel Leonard voted in favor of Giovine.
Board member Christopher Raimann was also nominated for presidency, but a vote was not held after the Giovine vote cleared the board successfully.
For Vice President, Loreen Torrone and Nardini received nominations, but after a 4-4 board split, Torrone cast a vote for herself to break the tie.
Outgoing board President Rob Onofrietti was joined by Nardini, Raimann and Leonard, all of whom voted against Torrone’s nomination.
Giovine, was a former Democrat political field agent, organizer and Ocean County director for the campaign of the late John Adler.
The board in their first two votes, maintained political party lines.
Democrat political powerbroker and board attorney Steven Leone addressed those in attendance and let the audience know he would leave the meeting early to make a flight to Florida.