A number of county residents have recently announced their intentions to run for office this year.
County Commissioner
Of the five seats on the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, two are up for grabs in November: those of first-term commissioner Ross Licitra and longtime board member Lillian Burry, who has announced her retirement. Commissioner Sue Kiley’s term runs through 2024; the terms for both commissioners Nick DiRocco and Thomas A. Arnone expire in 2025.
Licitra, a Republican, will seek reelection to the board. He is the Monmouth County Parks liaison and has worked on many projects, including the preservation of hundreds of additional acres of land within the parks. He is directly responsible for the implementation of state-of-the-art security systems in the parks and on trails to help keep park visitors safe, according to a release.
Licitra is a lifelong resident of Monmouth County who currently lives in Marlboro Township. He is a retired police officer and, since 2015, has been executive director of the Monmouth County SPCA.
“I am extremely proud of my many years of public service,” Licitra wrote in his announcement. “Serving as your County Commissioner for the past two years has been one of the greatest honors of my life and I will continue to always serve my community honestly and with conviction. My sense of equality, public safety, and the overall well-being of the entire county will always be my guide.”
Erik Anderson, the current mayor of Shrewsbury Borough, announced his intention to seek the nomination for Burry’s seat from the Monmouth County Republican Committee.
“As a candidate for County Commissioner, I will focus on important issues like keeping taxes low, ensuring our neighborhoods are safe, and supporting small businesses,” said Anderson in his announcement. “The County leadership team does a tremendous job in upholding a high quality-of-life for our taxpayers. As a lifelong Monmouth resident, I would be honored to work with our Commissioner Board to keep Monmouth the very best place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Anderson has been mayor of Shrewsbury since 2019 and served on the council for two years prior to that.
Born and raised in Monmouth County, Anderson is an owner and partner of the law firm Reardon Anderson, LLC. The firm helps grow small, local businesses, and fights for the rights of clients in state and federal court. Prior to forming Reardon Anderson, LLC , he was a partner in a regional law firm dedicated to representing clients in contested civil matters. Anderson has tried a number of cases before various courts in New Jersey and has argued before the Appellate Division. He has been recognized by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney.
Anderson and his wife Melissa live in Shrewsbury with their three sons. He is a Shrewsbury Recreation soccer coach, as well as a youth ski race coach. He is chairman of the Shrewsbury Republican Club, active with the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce and serves as a trustee for the Monmouth County Bar Association.
State Assembly
Margie Donlon, M.D. of Ocean Township and retired judge Luanne Peterpaul of Long Branch have received the Democratic nomination for State Assembly in the 11th Legislative District. The vote by mail ballots were tallied by the Democratic Commissioners of the Monmouth County Board of Elections. Over 300 delegates received ballots and 260 ballots were returned. Donlon received 221 and Peterpaul received 204, securing their spots on the ballot alongside current state Sen. Vin Gopal for the primary in June.
“The work begins now to make sure we get the representation we deserve in Trenton,” said Gopal in the announcement. “I am excited to run with Margie and Luanne, because they represent the best of Monmouth County, and our priorities perfectly align. I know I can rely on them to help me fight for stronger public safety measures, make the right investments in programs and services, and best prepare Monmouth County and the State of New Jersey for the future.”
Donlon, a practicing physician, currently serves as deputy mayor of Ocean Township. She was elected in 2019 as the top vote-getter in a nine candidate race. She has been a major advocate for open space, shared-services and programs supporting seniors and veterans. Donlon holds a master’s degree in public health from Yale University and received her medical degree from the University of Rochester. She is board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. An avid surfer, Margie lives in Ocean Township with her husband Ron and daughters Amalia and Vera.
“We are humbled by the overwhelming support we received by the Monmouth County delegates and excited to get started,” said Donlon.
Peterpaul, a former county prosecutor, has tried a number of successful cases against criminals, including those who have committed thefts and homicide. Most recently, she served as a municipal judge for both Long Branch and Asbury Park. She was named by the New Jersey Law Journal list as one of the Diverse Attorneys of the Year. Peterpaul has appeared on Court TV as a guest panelist and on other news outlets as a legal analyst. She previously served as chair of the board for Garden State Equality where she was instrumental in persuading the New Jersey State Legislature to enact bipartisan anti-bullying legislation. A graduate of Duquesne University and Seton Hall School of Law, she lives with her wife Robin in Long Branch.
“I have dedicated my life to giving back to my community and fighting for fair treatment of all families in and out of the courtroom. Now I am excited for the opportunity to continue doing so in Trenton with the support of the Mon- mouth County Democrats,” said Peterpaul.
Red Bank Council
In May, Red Bank Borough residents will go to the polls to vote in an entire new slate of officials as the municipality changes from a mayor-council to a council-manager form of government. Many have already announced their intention to run, including a group of candidates under the banner “Red Bank’s Ready.”
Calling themselves a “committed group of residents, advocates, and forward thinkers,” they said in a release their slate will “focus on strategic goals that avoid the poor outcomes of the past.” The candidate for mayor is current Mayor Billy Portman, who won election in November 2022 as a proponent of nonpartisan local elections. A father of three and general contractor by trade, he is committed to building a constructive and transparent governing body.
Those running for council include current council member Kate Triggiano, who has been elected twice by Red Bank voters for her dedication to building community, her environmental advocacy, support for a thriving downtown and small businesses. Kate is an active volunteer firefighter with West Side Hose Company and currently serves on the advisory board of the Indie Street Film Festival, the Red Bank Code Blue Committee, and the Firefighter Safety & Health advisory council for the NJ Fire Safety Commission.
Ben Forest raised his two children on the West Side of Red Bank and in its schools. He is the longest serving member of the board of education, serving three terms as president. In addition to operating a small business for IT services, he is a dedicated citizen-activist, regularly attending meetings of the borough council and other bodies. He was a member of the Red Bank Charter Study Commission whose recommendation of the council-manager form of government was adopted by voters in November. He also serves on the Board of Clean Water Action of New Jersey and Board of Trustees for Red Bank RiverCenter.
Nancy Blackwood is a retired systems engineer experienced in the analysis, design, and implementation of mission-critical systems for the telecommunications industry. She has been a member of the Red Bank Environmental Commission since 2017 and chair since 2019. She was recognized as a Sustainable Jersey hero for her work on a pedestrian safety project, and led the effort to establish a curbside Plastic Film Recycling program. Nancy was also the chair of the Red Bank Charter Study Commission.
David Cassidy moved with his family to Red Bank in 2008 and joined the fire department as a volunteer the same year. He currently serves as captain of the Navesink Hook & Ladder in addition to being a member of the planning board and its Master Plan steering committee. Dave’s work as a documentary filmmaker has earned him a Peabody award and four Emmy nominations. He is also a visiting professor at Wake Forest University and studies law at Seton Hall.
Laura Jannone holds a doctorate in nursing education from Teachers College, Columbia University, practiced nursing, and was a professor of nursing at Monmouth University for 21 years. A 23-year resident of Red Bank, she is also the standards and practice chair of NJ State School Nurses Association, executive board member for the Monmouth County School Nurses Association, and was the COVID outreach manager for the Visiting Nurses Association of Central New Jersey. In “retirement” she currently teaches nursing courses online for The City University of New York.
Kristina Bonatakis is a 13-year resident of Red Bank, Rutgers graduate, and operations leader for a New Jersey-based technology company. She is an active member of the environmental commission, green team, and planning board, where she currently serves on the Master Plan steering committee. She was previously the treasurer and an advisory board member for the Red Bank Business Alliance, having worked for a downtown business for seven years.
The article originally appeared in the February 16 – 22, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
