Freehold Township Committee Primary Election 2025: Michael Murphy

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ — This year’s Republican primary race is packed in Freehold Township with two candidates competing for one of the party’s open spots in the race for Township Committee.

Candidate Michael Murphy is running for the Republican Party's nomination against incumbent Maureen Fasano. In the Democratic primary race, no candidate petition has been filed.

Early voting for the Primary Election will run from June 3 through June 8. Primary Election Day is June 10.

Are you running for the Township Committee in Freehold Township? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Freehold Patch.

Michael Murphy

Age: 45
Town of Residence: Freehold Township
Education: BA (Rutgers University)
Occupation: Finance Manager

What drove you to seek public office?
I saw firsthand the damage an unengaged, checked-out governing body can have on its residents. Our current leaders have gone unchecked for far too long and have become complacent. That needs to end.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I come with no strings attached. I was not placed into power by County politicians, so the only people I owe anything to are the residents of Freehold Township. I would provide an insurgence of independent thinking on to the committee.

I challenge anyone to find the last time they didn’t vote unanimously on anything. Real challenges require individual thought, which is lacking in the current groupthink atmosphere that rules our Township Committee.

What do you see as the biggest issue Freehold Township is facing, and how will you resolve it?
We need to get back to basics. That means stopping the never-ending photo ops we see plastered all over Facebook and Instagram and getting down to business. A politician getting their picture taken isn’t going to reduce the cost of living or make it easier to get around.

Let’s develop a strategy on open space that makes the most impact on the day-to-day quality of life of our residents. Open space can’t just be a talking point or something to put on a billboard. Let’s use our open space dollars to put a real dent in building and congestion.

Let’s look at our budget line by line and delve into the mysterious “Other” line items and see what we can do about bringing down our debt. Let’s make all meetings available for viewing, the way neighboring towns have.

Finally, let’s take advantage of our greatest resource. We have so many dedicated and talented residents. Let’s get them involved. If that means pursuing legislation on term limits, let’s get it done. The Freehold Township Committee should not be a lifetime position, regardless of what our current members may think.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?
I have always been someone in my professional life who has been able to bring people together. Individuals and their needs are not one-size-fits-all. I will bring a more empathetic and open-minded approach to the committee.

People should never feel invisible or unheard. When I am elected, no one will.

If elected, what do you most hope to achieve in Freehold Township?
I want to get us back to the kind of town my parents moved my brother and I to 37 years ago.

I want to preserve our rural charm, practice fiscal responsibility, and make government more open and transparent.

Most of all, I want my son and all of our kids to have the same incredible childhood I had here in Freehold Township. I want them to grow up in the kind of town where we have each other’s backs. I want us to live up to the Family Town mantra we see as we enter town.

Name one thing about Freehold Township that always makes you smile.
The people. The lifelong friends I made growing up here. The new friends I have made through coaching Little League or through our campaign.

People, not politicians, make a town. It would be my honor to represent the people of Freehold Township.