Ocean County Democrats reelect Wyatt Earp chairman over challenger Terrance Turnbach

TOMS RIVER - Wyatt Earp, chairman of the Ocean County Democrats since 2005, won reelection to his leadership position Wednesday despite a vigorous challenge from former Toms River Councilman Terrance Turnbach.

Earp, 61, won with 260 votes, while 45-year-old Turnbach trailed with 204.

Earp said his goal as county party chairman is to "make people proud of their elected officials … not because they're a Republican or because they're a Democrat, (but) because they believe that they care the most about their town, which I believe is the Democratic candidate more times than not."

Turnbach had filed a lawsuit against Earp over Ocean County Democratic Committee members being allowed to vote remotely through software, a voting practice he said violated the organization's bylaws.

"You don't want somebody just casting a vote via text or email," he said. "You want to make sure that the person who's on the other end is the actual person."

Earp had insisted there was no violation of the committee's bylaws.

"Remote voting is permitted at our reorganization meeting by our bylaws,” Earp said in a prepared statement.

Turnbach's effort to stop remote voting was “disenfranchising voters who are ill, quarantined with COVID or have family or work obligations," he said.

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On Tuesday afternoon, with the election looming a day away, state Superior Court Judge Craig L. Wellerson reviewed the lawsuit and allowed remote voting to proceed, Turnbach said. However, the judge urged the committee's leadership to find a way to assure that the votes were cast by committee members, perhaps through video chat, he said.

About 30% of Democratic committee members voted remotely Wednesday through software called ElectionBuddy, a Canadian-based election software company.

In the end, Turnbach said the remote ballots favored Earp — 92 to 48.

"We put up a strong fight," said Turnbach. "It's close and clearly (the election) sent a message that the party needs to be refocused and energized… it's my hope now that the party can come together and work toward one common goal."

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Contributing: Erik Larsen

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.