A Republican who was planning to seek election as Freehold Borough’s mayor has pulled out of the race.
“I received a letter on July 12 from Freehold Borough mayoral candidate Jesus Vega in which he asked to withdraw from his candidacy for the November general election,” said Jane Fields, Freehold Borough Republican Committee chairwoman.
Fields said she forwarded the letter to the Monmouth County Board of Elections on July 14 and said she does not expect to appoint a replacement candidate for mayor for the Nov. 3 election.
Vega’s withdrawal from the race clears the way for Democrat Nolan Higgins to be re-elected to a second four-year term as mayor.
Republican candidates Robert Gibbons and Michael Gill remain in the running for three-year terms on the Borough Council, Fields said. They will seek to unseat Democratic incumbents Sharon Shutzer and Ron Griffiths.
According to Fields, Vega, 21, expressed appreciation of the mentoring opportunities the Freehold Borough Republican Committee had given him and the confidence its members showed in allowing him to run for office.
“He expressed it as a great privilege to be a first-generation American running for a position of leadership in his hometown,” Fields said.
Vega accepted a job out of the area while completing his education, she said.
“The Freehold Borough Republican Committee will continue to work on identifying and building leaders for the future of Freehold Borough,” Fields said.
Higgins said, “I am seeking another term so I can continue to work on behalf of our residents to provide municipal services to our community.”
Higgins, 58, is the director of the Higgins Memorial Home in the borough.
Griffiths, 73, is seeking re-election for a second three-year term on the council. He is a retiree after 40 years of employment with two federal agencies: the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of the Navy, mostly spent in human resources.
Shutzer, 71, has served on the council since 1992. She is a retired educator.
Gibbons, 34, studied political science at Brookdale Community College. He is a former third generation iron worker and the cofounder of an anti-bullying charity. He is a licensed life insurance agent who is a territory manager for an energy utility partnership company.
Gill, 22, is also running for a seat on the council. Gill has been a resident of Freehold Borough for 15 years. He is a recent graduate of Ramapo College and has a degree in communications and journalism. He is employed in retail sales.
— Contact Christine Barcia at [email protected]