BRICK – This year’s election in Brick Township poses new territory as a new mayor will be elected for the first time in 10 years.
The two political parties ran against unopposed candidates in the June 6 primary election for Brick, meaning their names will appear on the ballot in November. No independent candidates registered to run for any office yet.
Back in February, former Mayor John Ducey left the position he held for nearly nine years to serve as a Superior Court judge. Mayor Lisa Crate, who was appointed in his stead, will be representing the Democrats.
On the opposing side, current State Assemblyman and former council member John Catalano will lead the Republican ticket. Over the past 10 years, Republicans have not held the mayor’s office as well as a council majority.
With this in mind, this year’s election could potentially cause a shift for politics in Brick Township. The candidate who is voted in as mayor will serve out the remainder of Ducey’s term, which will end in 2025, and then they can run again for a full, four-year term in office.
Along with mayor, four seats on the council are on the table in November. The current roster of Council members consists of: Council President Heather DeJong, Council Vice President Andrea Zapcic, and council members Vincent Minichino, Perry Albanese, Derrick T. Ambrosino, Marianna Pontoriero, and Melissa Travers. Albanese is the lone Republican on the governing body.
The Democrat slate includes three incumbents and one newcomer. Travers and Ambrosino are currently holding appointed seats, filling in for the resignation of Crate when she was appointed mayor, as well as the resignation of former council member Art Halloran who moved out of town. Additionally, Minichino is seeking a second term on council and Steve Feinman is seeking his first term.
Representing Republicans alongside Catalano is Mary Buckley, Theresa Gallagher, James Palmisano and Rocco Palmieri.
