FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Two Republicans in Freehold Township are seeking re-election to a pair of three-year terms on the Township Committee.
According to the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, incumbent Republicans Anthony Ammiano and Thomas Cook have filed nominating petitions to retain their seats on the governing body. The new terms will run from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2024.
Ammiano and Cook will not be challenged in the June 8 primary election.
Ammiano, who is serving as Freehold Township’s deputy mayor in 2021, has been a member of the Township Committee since 2001 and is the longest-serving member. Professionally, he has been the chief financial officer and treasurer of Del-Sano Contracting Corporation for 35 years.
“My professional experience in the private sector has greatly helped me to understand and handle the fiscal and operational issues facing Freehold Township,” Ammiano said.
“However, it is my 21 years of active and dedicated service to the Freehold Township community that keeps me in touch with the needs of the residents, businesses and visitors. Those years have provided me with the experience to guide Freehold Township through the issues it faces today.
“Freehold Township is operationally and fiscally sound because the Township Committee does not focus on particular ‘pet areas’ or ‘politically favorable issues’ that they decide to take on,” Ammiano said.
“The Township Committee works hand in hand with the administration to identify important matters within the township, prioritize them and formulate an appropriate plan of action.
“We believe that in order to run an effective operation, you must hire and maintain competent professionals, ask questions of them and listen intently to their advice before taking action.
“Obviously, there are always things in every organization that could be improved. Certain municipal departments struggle on occasion because of the difficulty in funding the manpower necessary to be at optimal efficiency.
“Throughout all of our departments, we could use more help, and we have been actively using part-time employees to fill some of the personnel gaps. However, we must balance the need to operate at a certain level with the necessity of controlling property taxes. This is a balance we consistently strive to achieve,” he said.
Cook, who is serving as Freehold Township’s mayor in 2021, has been a member of the Township Committee since 2013. He is the reprographics director at an international law firm headquartered in New York City.
“I am seeking re-election to the Township Committee because I have a passion for serving the residents of Freehold Township.
“Freehold Township has great neighborhoods, exceptional schools, and beautiful parks and recreational facilities. I am very committed to keeping it a family town.
“Freehold Township has a number of challenges, like most municipalities, as it relates to the affordable housing mandate by the state, adapting in the post-pandemic environment and the growing cost of providing municipal services vs. the weight of property taxes on our residents.
“The items above put tremendous pressure on our town and its landscape from both a financial and quality of life perspective. I am committed to guiding the town through this very difficult time and providing guidance to ensure our community remains one of the best in the area,” Cook said.
Republicans hold all five seats on the Township Committee.
No Democrats filed a nominating petition to run for a seat on the Township Committee.
An individual who wants to run for Township Committee as an independent candidate has until June 8 to file a nominating petition and secure a place on the November general election ballot.
During the June 8 primary, a candidate may be nominated by write-in votes to run with a political party affiliation (Republican or Democrat) in the November general election.