Congratulations to John Leggio and Evelyn O’Donnell

Photo by John Leggio / Facebook. 

On Tuesday night, amongst the heat and anxiety of watching the presidential election unfold, it was announced that we have a new mayor and a newly re-elected councilwoman. Congratulations are in order for mayor-elect John Leggio and councilwoman Evelyn O’Donnell, wrapping up what was an enthralling local election in Howell.

Leggio and O’Donnell’s win reflects much of what the U.S. is uncovering now: that a wave of Republican majority is upon us. Obviously, Howell is a traditionally Republican town, despite having a democratic mayor since 2016. Still, the American map has been dipped and hung out to appear extremely red, with presidential-elect Donald Trump gaining more votes in each county this election than in 2020. In New Jersey, this realignment is noted and the stereotype of bluedom that veils over the Garden State is shifting more and more out of focus. In 2020, Joe Biden won New Jersey by 15.9 percent, which equals out to around 725 thousand votes above Donald Trump. In 2024, Kamala Harris scraped by, winning the electoral votes by only 5 percent. In Monmouth County, an inherently red piece of land, this divide gets only wider, showcasing Donald Trump coming out on top in 2024 an extra 10 percent more than he did in 2020. 

This analysis is not meant to diminish John Leggio’s win. John Leggio, from the very beginning of the election, has garnered a community of Howell citizens, both Republican and Democrat, that are upset with the way things are going and that want change. His straight shooter demeanor is one that has consistently bode well with voters and his stray from the “party bosses,” or so he calls them, of the Howell GOP has been admirable to watch. When I asked him about his win, Leggio responded pleased, stating, “I feel good.” Excitedly, Leggio elaborated on his hard work to get here and his dedication to his cause, stating he is ready to “go to work for the residents of Howell.” 

In response to being asked about Evelyn O’Donnell’s win, a candidate who he has spoken out about many times as being affiliated with the Republican corruption in Howell, Leggio answered honestly. He wasn’t happy, he said, following up with, “It is what it is.” Despite his personal disappointment, Leggio offered up a positive end to his ongoing and public opposition to O’Donnell, arguing “we’re going to have to get along,” in order to complete his visions for Howell. 

In a Facebook post on his campaign page, Leggio shared further insight into the election results, referencing Independent council candidate Betty Velez-Gimbel’s vote count: “We all know Howell is a Republican town and this election result proves it. But there is another message. Over 4,500 people who voted for me did not vote for the establishment Republican council candidate. People are not happy with the Howell Republican Party and its leadership. It’s time for change.” Leggio’s acknowledgement of Gimbel’s inferior vote count points to something else that is already known about local elections: that the tendency to vote down the line, without knowing who you’re really voting for, is more common than we want to admit.

Taking O’Donnell’s 14 thousand votes, Leggio’s 18 thousand votes, and Gimbel’s 4 thousand votes reaps a pretty easy analysis: that a majority of those who didn’t vote for O’Donnell casted their vote for Gimbel. This can be backed up further with Democratic candidates Hughes and Scott’s almost identical 8 thousand votes, save for a couple hundred votes that Scott didn’t receive. This was to be expected, since both Hughes and Scott ran together as conjoined Democrats.

In his Facebook post, Leggio also utilized the keyboard to make a gracious move into his new role as mayor, acknowledging his opponent John Hughes’ effort, writing “Thank you for being a gentleman and respectful throughout this campaign. Your advocacy about ethics is important and needed in Howell.” He also welcomed both Betty Velez-Gimbel and Rebecca Scott to stay involved and consider working as volunteers, arguing that “it’s important to find roles for people who want to serve our community.”   

Evelyn O’Donnell, whose campaign platform rode on her experience as a councilwoman, shared a similar victory on Tuesday night. With the knowledge of O’Donnell’s controversy in town, and the statements that Leggio has made denouncing her platform, it is both surprising and not surprising to see O’Donnell rise above it all and come out on top. On her campaign’s Facebook page, Evelyn wrote, “Thank you, Howell! I am deeply honored to have earned your trust and support for another term. Together, we’ve achieved so much for our community, and I’m excited to keep working with you to make Howell an even better place for families, seniors, and future generations.”

Overall, Leggio’s win represents a new wave of politics in Howell, one that represents community over party. Congratulations to Leggio and O’Donnell, and good work to the rest of the candidates. Let’s hope some change begins.