The Democrat candidate for Toms River, Zachary Dougherty, is facing criticism following reports that his campaign has received donations from two prominent figures in Lakewood.
The contributions come from Marta Harrison, former Lakewood mayor and head of the Lakewood Democratic party, and developer Mordechai Eichorn.
Dougherty, a state Democratic party operative who has worked for U.S. Senator Cory Booker and is aligned with U.S. Congressman Andy Kim and Governor Phil Murphy, accepted campaign checks from these two influential Lakewood figures. Eichorn, who owns the real estate firm Re-Max on the Move, is currently involved in several development projects, including the construction of private schools and a large housing project, “Jackson Trails,” on the Jackson-Lakewood border.
William Byrne, the Republican candidate for Toms River’s Ward 2 council seat in the upcoming November election, commented on the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission report detailing Dougherty’s donations. Byrne noted that the financial backing from these Lakewood power brokers has sparked concern among some voters in Toms River.
The involvement of these high-profile figures from neighboring Lakewood has added a new dimension to the local race, with Byrne suggesting the donations are raising questions about Dougherty’s connections and potential influence from outside the community.