Election Profile: Rocco Impreveduto For Holmdel Twp Committee

HOLMDEL, NJ — One seat is open on the Holmdel Township committee and Democrat Rahul Diddi is running against Republican Rocco Impreveduto.

Impreveduto is a marketing and digital transformation executive and has been a resident of Holmdel for eight years. A graduate of both Holmdel High School and Penn State University, he was previously elected as the vice-chairman representing Holmdel for the Monmouth County Republican Committee.

Impreveduto lives with his wife Danielle and three children Rocco, Daniel and Matthew.

Are you running for local office in 2021? Contact Catarina Moura at catarina.moura@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Why are you seeking elective office?

This is a way for me to give back to Holmdel in a more substantial manner. Since I moved back to town, I've had the opportunity to contribute as a member of the Recreation Committee, the Planning Board, and the Monmouth County Bayshore Outfall Authority. I've also spent time coaching hundreds of Holmdel's children in a variety of HYAA sports. This town is a special place to me, and – as corny as it sounds – I just want to be able to serve in the most impactful way that I can.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

My father – Pat Impreveduto – served our community with distinction for nearly 20 years in a variety of capacities: Board of Education member, Holmdel Township committeeman, mayor of Holmdel, and as commissioner on the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners. It's an honor to have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it:

Fiscal responsibility is paramount. The township has new and greater revenue streams – the PILOT program for example – than ever before. What we do with that money, how we use it to benefit our taxpayers while maintaining our 0 percent municipal tax rate is something I'm heavily focused on. Currently, municipal tax revenues are up and the PILOT is delivering beyond forecast. I think we need to place a critical eye on how those revenue streams are working for us – working to benefit the taxpayers. It's not enough to just hold the line on taxes – what are we doind for our residents? For example, I'd like to provide free transport for senior citizens to and from important local medical appointments. The projected cost would be minimal for the town, and many seniors have personally told me how beneficial it would be for them, so let's figure it out!

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

There are many. As I’ve written right here at Patch, I have detailed plans to ease the burden of property taxes in Holmdel, provide services to – and build greater engagement with – our Senior Citizens and honor our veterans.

I’m the only candidate openly fighting to preserve Open Space – particularly as it relates to the Potter’s Farm situation and I’m the only candidate who has committed to donating his salary to local Holmdel organizations: The Half-Century Club, HYAA, and The Holmdel Theatre Company.

I have a vision for Holmdel and how we can better engage and support everyone in our community. We want to preserve all that makes Holmdel an exceptional place to live while leveraging our resources to enhance our community and the services and opportunities we provide to each and every person in it. This town shouldn't just tread water – we should aspire to do more and do better for our taxpayers. This is public service to me, not politics.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Sure, everything we want to do applies to three key tenets: preserving open space, fiscal responsibility, and preserving our exceptional way of life. Some additional efforts we’re embarking on:

• Enhance our efforts around public safety by paying for school security so the Board of Education can redirect those funds toward our kids' learning and (mental, physical, and emotional) growth. The township recently agreed to pay up to 50 percent of the security cost 5 years from now – with only 10 percent committed this year. It’s simply not enough – Holmdel is not a 50 percent town. The cost to protect our kids is $300,000/year. The township is responsible for public safety, we should be paying the entire bill – period.
• If elected, I’d also like to stand up a Heritage Committee. This idea actually came to me when asked about how to combat the rise in Anti-Asian hate crimes. The purpose of this committee would be to provide the diverse groups in our town with a direct line to the Township Committee to keep us apprised of challenges within their community and find ways to better support them.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

My entire career has been dedicated to helping companies operate more efficiently, do more, and achieve greater. The same principles apply here – understand our current state and the challenges we're experiencing, develop a vision for the future, and put the appropriate plans in motion to achieve that desired state.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be patient and persistent. Life is not so much what you accomplish as what you overcome.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If I'm fortunate enough to earn your vote, I'll govern on one simple principle: what's best for Holmdel. I pledge to honor your vote by serving only in the best interests of our community, putting Holmdel first. I'm here to serve you – pure and simple.

Additional reporting by Nicole Rosenthal