A female candidate has cleared the first hurdle in seeking a seat on the Ship Bottom Borough Council for the first time in more than two decades, netting the most ballots cast and outpacing her all-male opponents in the June 4 Republican primary.

Mary Alice Basile garnered 135 votes with 106 being cast on primary day last week, 15 in early votes and 14 in mail-in ballots, according to results from the Ocean County Clerk’s Office as of Monday, June 10.