Monmouth County Board of Commissioners Primary 2025: Vito Colasurdo

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — This year’s Democratic primary race for the Board of County Commissioners is uncontested, with two candidates running for the party nominations.

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

In the Republican primary, incumbents Thomas Arnone and Dominick “Nick” DiRocco are running for re-election against challenger Mary Katie Kelliher.

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.

Vito Colasurdo

Age: 43
Town of Residence: Atlantic Highlands
Education: Undergraduate: University of Massachusetts - Amherst; Law School: Seton Hall Law
Occupation: Family Law Attorney with a Private Practice

What drove you to seek public office?
I initially sought public office because I was frustrated with the lack of communication and transparency from my local council at the time. I knew there was a better way to govern and a path to better representation of Atlantic Highlands’ residents.

It is easy to talk about change but harder to do something about it, and I decided I had to make the jump and step up on behalf of my neighbors. Now, I’m excited to do the same for the Board of Commissioners and to expand the representation of the Board to bring transparency to the County Level.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?
What sets me apart from other candidates is not only that I have crucial municipal experience, but my professional experience as well.

As a family law attorney, I consistently work with families at the crossroads of a pivotal time in their lives. This means that I have to listen to their challenges intently and compassionately, while working collaboratively with those on the opposite side of the issue.

At a time where diversity of thought is necessary in our local governments to better reflect the unique makeup of our demographics, I have always been able to work with those who may see things differently than I do. I am uniquely positioned to carry the skills of these experiences over to the County level and apply them to the deserving residents of Monmouth County.

What do you see as the biggest issue Monmouth County is facing, and how will you resolve it?
The biggest challenge that Monmouth County currently faces is the rapidly changing landscape of Federal funding. With sweeping Medicaid cuts, County social services will see a huge influx of participants and requests that we need to be prepared for.

Instead of spending taxpayer dollars on vanity projects such as unnecessary building renovations, we need to spend smarter and relocate that money somewhere that the Monmouth County residents will benefit from.

As it is, wait lists for services such as Ride in Monmouth, formerly known as Special Citizen Area Transportation (SCAT), are excessively long. With the Federal cuts to Medicaid, those wait times will become disproportionately longer. It is up to the County government to reallocate funds and make sure our residents are being appropriately taken care of in this time of instability and unpredictability.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?
Running for my local municipal Council was my first experience running for public office. In that race, I successfully unseated two incumbents.

Throughout my time on the Council, we have worked to make transparency number one, and I am proud that we have come with our decisions. Every meeting we have is accessible both in-person and virtually, and every resident has a chance to participate. Our Council has set office hours for residents to come in and ask questions on a one-on-one basis.

I am proud to be a point person that residents can come to when they have questions or issues that need the municipality’s attention, and know that they will be heard. I want to bring the same principles to the County level, where meetings are currently inaccessible for a large majority of the working public.

If elected, what do you most hope to achieve in Monmouth County?
If elected, I most hope to improve the lives of our Monmouth County residents. I want everyone to know that their County government is accessible and will not only truly listen to their concerns, but take action in addressing and implementing their thoughts, issues, and concerns.

I also hope to achieve a more efficient government. While we continue to lose federal funding, we need to take a look with a critical eye at our budgeting and refocus our spending on what is important to maintaining a thriving county — specifically on infrastructure, education, and our county’s beautiful nature that must be preserved.

Name one thing about Monmouth County that always makes you smile.
During my time as a Councilperson in Atlantic Highlands, I’ve been deeply moved by the strong sense of community that defines not just our town, but the County as a whole.

Whether it’s Atlantic Highlands Day, the Halloween parade, or countless other local events, I’m continually proud of how we come together not just to celebrate, but to lift each other up. Time and time again, I’m inspired by the generosity and selflessness of our residents and the spirit of volunteerism that helps make our community a better place, no matter how small the gesture.

As a small business owner based in Red Bank, I also have the privilege of being part of another vibrant local community. Red Bank’s Main Street is full of life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support the many small businesses that embody the spirit of Monmouth County.