Toms River, N.J. – A contentious ballot fight in Ocean County ended abruptly this week when Toms River Regional school board member Kathy Eagan, a Democrat and former NJEA union leader, withdrew her lawsuit seeking to remove her Republican challenger from the November ballot after facing scrutiny over conflicting testimony.
Eagan, who is running for a third term, had filed an Order to Show Cause to disqualify opponent George Lobman, a former Toms River councilman, alleging he falsified his nominating petition. The complaint claimed Lobman certified that he personally gathered voter signatures when others allegedly circulated the petitions, and further accused a notary of improperly notarizing the documents.
But during a September 4 court hearing, defense attorneys challenged Eagan’s testimony, pointing to contradictions in her previous statements. When pressed to testify under oath, Eagan declined and withdrew the case, according to court records.
The decision ensures Lobman remains on the ballot alongside Eagan and a third candidate as election officials prepare to finalize ballots.
“This is how democracy should work,” Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick said following the withdrawal. “There will be a stark contrast between the two candidates, and I say let the voters decide.” Rodrick had been named in Eagan’s lawsuit, which accused him of mishandling ballots.
Court filings also revealed testimony from a voter, identified as Ms. Musso, who claimed she was misled when signing Lobman’s petition. Lobman’s attorneys disputed the allegation, noting that Musso’s statement did not accuse any defendant of wrongdoing and raised questions about why she signed the document if she did not understand it.
Lobman has positioned his campaign around restoring financial stability to the district, which has faced ongoing budget challenges.
Key Points
- Kathy Eagan withdrew her lawsuit challenging George Lobman’s ballot petition after being pressed on contradictory testimony.
- The withdrawal clears the way for Lobman, Eagan, and a third candidate to appear on the November ballot.
- Court filings revealed voter testimony at issue but did not show direct misconduct by Lobman or his allies.
The school board race in Toms River just got even more dramatic.
