Brick Township Council Election 2025: Heather deJong

BRICK, NJ — Patch is publishing profiles of local candidates in the 2025 election, set for Tuesday, Nov. 4.

In Brick Township, voters will be casting ballots for three seats on the Township Council and for mayor. The council seats and mayor's seat are four-year terms.

The council slates are Democrats Heather deJong, Dan Ward and Rocco Lepore and Republicans Lisa Reina, Greg Cohen and Perry Albanese.

The candidates were asked the same questions by email in early October. Patch is publishing the answers from the candidates who have replied. Here are the answers from Heather deJong.

Name: Heather deJong

Age: 45

Family: Mother and Father retired to South Carolina; Brother and Sister-in-law raising my two nieces here in Brick. Two adult stepchildren. Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle live in Point Pleasant Boro.

Education: Bachelor of Arts from Moravian College (University)

Occupation: Director of Advancement & Engagement for Meals on Wheels Ocean County

Overdevelopment has been a hot-button discussion for years, with every proposed business sparking discussion about traffic and what will serve Brick Township residents well. What ways do you believe Brick can respond to the concerns?

During my years on the Township Council, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to act carefully and protect the character of our community. Ocean County continues to grow faster than any other county in New Jersey — but Brick has taken a different path. Our population has remained steady because we’ve made responsible choices that prevent overdevelopment.

We’ve held the line on large apartment projects. When the developer at the FoodTown property wanted to build over 200 apartments and condos we said NO, and now we will have a new business with the sports dome that residents of all ages can utilize.

In fact, no apartment complexes have been approved during the twelve years our Team has been under the leadership of Mayor Ducey and now Mayor Crate. That didn’t happen by accident — it took strong zoning laws and the determination to say “no” when a project doesn’t fit.

At the same time, we’ve worked to preserve open space. More than 800 acres have been permanently protected from development under the Ducey and Crate administrations through the Brick Open Space Savers, and we continue to advocate acquiring undeveloped parcels to prevent building on these sites.

We’re also encouraging businesses to fill empty storefronts instead of bulldozing over our remaining open space. Our Storefront Revitalization Program is helping small businesses open in existing commercial areas, bringing new life to our business zones without cutting down trees.

Let’s continue to keep Brick as the suburban neighborhood community that we all love.

The issue of homelessness in Ocean County is not going away. Rising rent costs combined with scarce availability have pushed even moderate-income residents to the brink and in some cases left them homeless. What role should Brick have in assisting those in need?

I’ve seen how important it is for Brick to stand by our residents in need. We work closely with our nonprofit partners to make sure no one in our community is left behind.

Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity has been a partner of the town for 25 years now and Brick is working with them and donating a parcel of neighborhood land that they will build 2 homes to provide long-term housing to families in need.

As Americans, we have a special duty to our veterans — the men and women who have served our country and now call Brick home. That’s why Brick sold a parcel of land to Homes Now for $1 to create handicapped-accessible one- and two-bedroom apartments reserved for veterans who need safe housing they can afford. It’s a small way to give back to those who gave so much.

As a Councilwoman, I keep an open line of communication with the Brick Housing Authority which provides housing for seniors and residents with disabilities, along with families struggling to make ends meet. Last year, Brick Senior Services started a weekly Community Cafe (onsite dining) with lunch from Meals on Wheels. Through this opportunity, Senior Services were able to connect with residents who didn’t know they existed and get them the services they needed. These programs are about more than housing — they’re about keeping our community strong.

What is the issue facing Brick that you believe is the most pressing and how would you approach solving it?

The most important thing we can do in Brick is to keep municipal taxes stable. We’ve done that. Municipal taxes have been stable with an annual increase of about 1.5% per year, ($38 on average per year) staying well below inflation. But the School Board President and candidate for Mayor Madeline Iannarone is not doing her job.

In the last 2 years, the School Board voted to raise taxes 12%, which is a $404 increase for the average Brick homeowner. This represents the largest 2-year school tax increase in the history of Brick. They claim it’s not their fault. They blame Governor Murphy for cutting school funding. Guess what, Murphy cut municipal funding by over $1 million last year. The Mayor and Council didn’t like it, but our solution was to find ways to save money and spend less.

Madeline Iannarone’s response was to raise our school taxes to record levels. The Crate Team has a proven record of fiscal responsibility. Ms. Iannarone has a proven record of fiscal disaster and raising taxes. We can’t afford to let her become Mayor.