Monmouth County Board Of Commissioners Primary 2025: Dominick DiRocco

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — This year’s Republican primary race for the Board of County Commissioners is packed in Monmouth County with three candidates running for two of the party’s open spots.

Candidate Dominick “Nick” DiRocco is running for re-election on the board with Thomas Arnone against challenger Mary Katie Kelliher.

In the Democratic Primary race, Vito Colasurdo and Jacquelyn Wenzel are running for the two spots open for their party’s nomination.

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 Board of County Commissioners in Monmouth County? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Dominick “Nick” DiRocco

Age: 51
Town of Residence: Wall Township, NJ
Education:

• Seton Hall University, School of Law - Newark, New Jersey
  • Juris Doctorate (May 1999)

• Rutgers University – New Brunswick, New Jersey
  • Bachelor of Arts (May 1996)

Occupation: Attorney; Bar Admissions - Admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.
Public Service: Commissioner – Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners (2020 – Present), Mayor – Wall Township (2017), Committeeman – Wall Township (2014-2019)

What drove you to seek public office?
Public service has always been a core value in my life, and I was raised with a deep appreciation for civic responsibility.

Early in my legal career, I had the opportunity to work as a deputy attorney general for the State of New Jersey, where I learned firsthand how sound public policy and strong leadership can directly improve the quality of life in our communities.

Later, as I began to raise a family in Wall Township, I decided to take an active role in our town so that I could ensure a safe, healthy and prosperous community for my children and all those who live and work in our area.

My initial experience as a volunteer member of the Wall Township Planning Board inspired me to step up and run for elected office — first as a member of the Wall Township Committee, later as Mayor, and now as a Monmouth County Commissioner.

I’ve always believed that good governance begins with dedicated public servants who are willing to listen, lead, and act with integrity.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?
What sets me apart is my depth of experience in both the public and private sectors, and my proven track record of results.

Early in my legal career, I served as a deputy attorney general in the NJ Attorney General’s Office and later served in several leadership roles in the NJ Governor’s office. In addition, I’ve spent the last decade working in the private sector for several leading NJ business enterprises.

This blended work experience has given me the ability to understand how to navigate government to achieve results while at the same time implementing business-like efficiencies to save taxpayer dollars.

My background and work experience have afforded me the ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver meaningful solutions for Monmouth County residents.

What do you see as the biggest issue Monmouth County is facing, and how will you resolve it?
Monmouth County’s greatest challenge is managing our county budget in the face of sustained inflation and increased state mandates. Inflationary pressures continue to vex consumers, and public entities are not immune.

In recent years, annual inflation rates have reached as high as 7%, which directly impacts the cost of the goods and services we procure to serve the public. Despite these inflationary increases, we have managed to continue to deliver balanced county budgets and to minimize county expenditures, while at the same time continuing to make important investments in our transportation infrastructure, public safety initiatives and open space acquisitions.

As County Commissioner, I’m focused on sound fiscal management, cutting waste, and ensuring taxpayers get maximum value for every dollar spent.

Moving forward, I’ll continue to champion policies that support economic development, streamline county operations, and prioritize property tax stability — all while protecting the high quality of life that makes Monmouth County a great place to live and raise a family.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?
I’ve spent over 25 years serving the people of New Jersey in various roles and I’m currently serving my second term as a Monmouth County Commissioner, where I act as liaison to key departments including the Department of Finance, Board of Taxation, Division of Weights and Measures, Insurance and Risk Management, the Monmouth County Clerk and Records Management, County Administration, the Vocational School District, and the Office of the Fire Marshall and the Fire Academy.

Beyond my service to the county, I’ve also had the privilege of engaging in meaningful statewide work through service on the NJ Local Finance Board, the NJ State House Commission and the State Capitol Joint Management Commission.

In addition, I currently serve on the Executive Board of the New Jersey Association of Counties, advocating for county taxpayers through efforts that include fighting to secure federal opioid settlement funds for local use, advocating for relief from rising health insurance costs, and pushing to end the state’s diversion of 911 fees.

These experiences — combined with my earlier leadership roles in the public sector and my current work in the private sector — give me the well-rounded perspective, legal experience, and proven record of advocacy needed to continue to lead effectively at the county level.

If elected, what do you most hope to achieve in Monmouth County?
If re-elected, I will continue working to ensure Monmouth County remains a leader in fiscal responsibility, public safety, and service delivery.

I’m particularly focused on modernizing county operations through technology, supporting workforce development through our vocational schools, and preserving our renowned county parks and open spaces.

One example of innovation in county government is our initiative to build a methane capture facility at the county landfill. Once completed, this project will repurpose biogas at the landfill for renewable energy purposes. As such, it will create a revenue source for the county while improving air quality for our residents – truly a win-win.

If re-elected, I will continue to implement innovative programs such as this so we can leave our county even better for the next generation — more efficient, more resilient, and more responsive to the needs of our residents and businesses.

Name one thing about Monmouth County that always makes you smile.
What makes me smile most about Monmouth County are the many ways that we lead the state in effective governance, including through the educational opportunities afforded through the county.

For instance, Monmouth County boasts the top-ranked community college in the State, Brookdale CC, as noted by Niche.com's 2025 Best Community Colleges in New Jersey.

Moreover, the Monmouth County Vocational School District has 5 of the top 20 best public high schools in the state, according to recent rankings by the State Department of Education (N.J.’s top high schools ranked by latest state scores. See the full list). This means that students educated in county schools at the secondary and post-secondary levels are exposed to top-notch educational programs.

It makes me smile with pride to know that we are effectively preparing our young people for the workforce or continued higher education and setting them up for future success.