Toms river council candidates get into downtown barroom scuffle
Pardoned convicted tax fraudster George Gilmore walking downtown with Toms River candidate for council, Anthony Ricotta

Toms River Council Candidates Get Into Downtown Barroom Scuffle

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1 min read
May 16, 2025

TOMS RIVER, NJ – Shortly after Toms River council candidate Anthony Ricotta was spotted downtown with a camera crew, led by development lobbyist George Gilmore, it was reported that he got into a shouting match with another candidate for office at a nearby bar.

Ricotta, who is Gilmore’s chosen candidate for Toms River Council was later seen with Gilmore and the Ocean County Young Republicans at a nearby bar (name withheld for the business).

According to Paul C. Williams, a Democrat candidate running against Ricotta, who also happened to be in the same bar, Ricotta’s mother ran up to Williams and began shouting at him.

Williams responded by asking if any of the men in the room wanted to explain what she was talking about. It is then, that Ricotta intervened and approached Williams as the two began shouting at each other, Ricotta, claiming he was defending his mother’s actions against Williams.

Ocean County Commissioner Rob Arace entered the melee and attempted to settle things down, according to eyewitnesses.

At this time, no police reports were filed.

Phil Stilton

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