TOMS RIVER – The 2022 election will host a number of congressional races, as well as many local ones, and politicians looked to the lessons learned during the 2021 campaign.
The race in Toms River was pretty messy, with a blitz of social media and mailings. Like in any election, the truth wasn’t necessarily driving the bus.
Maria Maruca was a councilwoman for 18 years. Her term ended at the end of last year. She repeated the popular statement that “Politics is a full contact sport.”
The 2021 election season was full of misinformation and negative attacks, she said.
“People react to whatever they see. They take everything at face value,” she said. Facebook and other social media sites make it easy for incorrect information to spread.
“I had a good record to run on, and I’ve been responsive to the residents of Toms River,” she said, as opposed to how she said she was betrayed.
Maruca is a Republican, but was in the same boat as Terrance Turnbach, a Democrat. They both were on council last year and lost elections.
“You see very quickly those on the council that are in politics for the right reasons, to work for the betterment of the town, and you see who’s there for their own betterment. It’s not hard to see who’s working and who’s not working,” he said.
Social media spreads lies extremely quickly. “People read something online and believe it. It takes time to read and find out the truth. We can all differ on opinions, but at least be factual.”
He had some advice to people in office or seeking office: “Don’t focus on the distractions. That will take away from the good work you have the potential to do.”
