A candidate in the recent Toms River Fire District No. 1 election has just filed a lawsuit challenging the results, alleging misconduct and fraud in the vote certification process. Michael Hopson, who ran for one of the two available commissioner seats, claims that election officials improperly altered the results after certification, unlawfully declaring his opponent, Anthony Cirz, the winner.
At an emergent hearing held this afternoon, Ocean County Superior Court Presiding Judge Craig Wellerson preliminarily agreed that there are appearances of irregularities. The judge further barred Cirz from acting in the capacity of fire commissioner pending an evidentiary hearing to be held next Thursday, March 19.
According to the lawsuit filed in Ocean County Superior Court, the original election results showed a tie between Hopson and Cirz, which under New Jersey law would have required a vacancy to be declared. However, Hopson alleges that officials secretly changed the vote totals after the certification deadline, giving Cirz an additional vote and eliminating the tie.
The complaint names several fire district officials, including Fire District Chairman Daniel Roman and Clerk Robert Krohn, accusing them of conspiring to manipulate the results. Hopson is seeking a court order to invalidate the altered results and either declare him the rightful winner or mandate a special election.
The lawsuit also raises concerns about transparency, alleging that the changes were made without public notice or a formal recount. If successful, the case could lead to significant reforms in how local fire district elections are conducted.
At an emergent hearing held this afternoon, attorneys for the fire district admitted that after the initial certification of the votes, two additional votes "were found." However they were hard lipped in explaining how and where the additional votes "were found."
Attorney Steven Secare feebly stated, "this is a politically motivated lawsuit as without Cirz sitting, the position will be vacant and all hot matters will be stalled by 2-2 tie races."
Judge Wellerson was not at all fazed, stating "and how will things be any different from any other board that has tie votes?"
Wellerson preliminarily agreed that there are appearances of irregularities and barred Cirz from acting in the capacity of fire commissioner pending an evidentiary hearing to be held next Thursday, March 19. This includes a joint Fire District board meeting which is scheduled to take place tonight.
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