Holmdel Board Of Education Election 2025: Brittany Manning

HOLMDEL, NJ — Candidate Brittany Manning is running for election to the Holmdel Township Board of Education in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

In November, Manning will run for one of three open full-term seats on the board with Greg Fernandez and Joanne Lam under the campaign “Education Not Politics.”

The three will run against incumbents John Buckley and Jeff Mann, alongside newcomer Kevin Schroeter, who are all running under the campaign “Preserve Holmdel Schools.”

Ahead of the General Election, Patch posed several questions to Manning about her campaign platform, experience, and what sets her apart from other candidates running. Her replies are below.

Editor’s Note: The following article contains information about one of the candidates running for the Holmdel Township Board of Education in 2025. Responses are written as received by Patch.

Patch has contacted all other candidates in this race with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

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

Brittany Manning

Age: 39
Town of Residence: Holmdel, NJ
Education: Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, The University of Notre Dame
Master of Science in Accountancy, The University of Notre Dame
Occupation: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), VP/Head of Tax at Imperial Dade

What drove you to seek public office?
I’m driven to give back; it’s the way I was raised. I love Holmdel, and I feel I have something worthwhile to contribute.

More importantly, I have concerns about where our leadership is headed. I don’t think the incumbents have been good stewards of the community, and I want to get involved and help.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?
I’m a CPA, a qualification no current Board of Education member or candidate has.

The Board of Education oversees a $72M budget, and the bulk of the duties fall on the Business Administrator (BA), a fellow CPA. I speak her language; I can support her in ways others can’t.

We’ve both been professionally trained to analyze balance sheets and income statements and research accounting and tax law. We can challenge each other and establish checks and balances in the process. All of this is important, especially for a school district such as ours facing a multi-million dollar budget deficit.

My opponents will tell you that this credential doesn’t matter. It does. Just like a doctor reading medical records and an architect reading blueprints, a CPA is licensed in reading and managing financial statements.

Holmdel strives to have our children receive excellent education, go to top-notch colleges, have successful careers, earn exceptional certifications and be active in their community. Why wouldn’t we embrace that of our board members too?

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?
I’ve built a successful career as an accounting executive by combining strong planning skills with clear, effective communication. I manage complex, high-stakes responsibilities: overseeing tax compliance across hundreds of jurisdictions and ensuring timely, accurate million-dollar payments.

My role is to uncover savings while safeguarding quality. Frequently, I present strategies to management, answer for spending decisions and provide documentation that stands up to audits from external consultants and taxing authorities.

These skills have also made me successful in my community roles as an HYAA basketball commissioner and varsity basketball official. I assist in the management of 80+ teams across travel and recreational leagues each season. We manage our budget efficiently and find ways to give back to the school through donations and our referee mentor program.

As an official, I enjoy working with students and contributing positively to youth sports. Despite high-pressure situations, I must remain professional and set the tone and expectations for each game, including sportsmanship and respect.

I am also an active member at Middletown United Methodist Church, where I serve on the finance committee and audit their financial statements each year.

Finally, and most importantly, I bring everyday experience as a parent of three young boys.

If elected, what will be your top priorities in your new role?
Although getting Holmdel back on track fiscally is my top priority, I’d also focus on the following:

• Technology: Our school system faces a major challenge in harnessing the positives of technology while protecting students from its dangers. The use of technology should not diminish the need for critical thinking or basic skills such as spelling and vocabulary. It should also be controlled – decreased attention spans, rising anxiety and social bullying are real. Holmdel needs clear, active policies that guide technology use.
• Anti-Bullying Initiatives: All students, regardless of ability or where they are on their educational journey, need safety to thrive. I’ve listened to the community, and they are frustrated and overwhelmed by the HIB process. In multiple cases, I have learned of parents leaving the school district, which is disappointing. I want to help inject more accountability and trust into the process and keep families in Holmdel.
• Listening: The job of the BOE is to serve all members of our school community. There are a lot of individuals in Holmdel, and they all have valid, unique experiences. By committing to being open-minded and eager to listen, the best ideas and perspectives will have the greatest chance of being put into action. I’m comfortable leading teams, managing personalities and collaborating to find middle ground.

Name one thing about Holmdel that always makes you smile.
It may sound like a cliche, but for me, the people always make me smile. Whether through officiating, HYAA, church, or my children’s classrooms and school events, I’ve been fortunate to develop wonderful friendships.

I’m grateful for the time our residents were willing to give me as I campaigned. If elected, I’ll continue to listen and bring your voices to the BOE.