Holmdel Board Of Education Election 2025: Joanne Lam

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

In November, Lam will run for one of three open full-term seats on the board with Greg Fernandez and Brittany Manning 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 Lam 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.

Joanne Lam

Age: Preferred Not To Answer
Town of Residence: Holmdel
Education: Bachelor of Science in Accounting — Fordham University
Occupation: Financial Advisor

What drove you to seek public office?
I’m running for the Board of Ed because Holmdel students, schools, and taxpayers deserve better. Despite a $72 million budget, the district faces a $2.5+ million deficit, jeopardizing teacher retention, hiring, and reliable student transportation.

The board is considering cuts to teaching staff and the outsourcing of paraprofessionals and custodians, while teachers remain without a contract. Families move to Holmdel for strong academics, extracurriculars, excellent facilities, and special education services, but without sound financial management, all of that is at risk.

What sets you apart from other candidates?
I’m a first-generation college graduate with an accounting degree from Fordham University, where I also competed on the crew team. That foundation, and the discipline it instilled, led to senior tax roles managing complex budgets at global financial institutions.

As a former student-athlete, I understand the value of strong sports and extracurricular programs in building confidence, resilience and teamwork. I’ll advocate for a stronger athletics program and equal resources and better protections for female athletes.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?
I bring over 20 years of experience in corporate tax and financial planning, including a decade in tax roles at firms including Prudential, GE Healthcare and Goldman Sachs, followed by financial advisor positions in Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, and HSBC before going independent.

With a strong background in accounting and tax strategy, I’m committed to using my experience to fix the budget and ease the burden on taxpayers.

If elected, what will be your top priorities in your new role?
Holmdel’s biggest challenge is a $2.5+ million school budget deficit. The board’s top priority must be fixing the budget while minimizing the burden on taxpayers, so we can realistically meet all district goals.

With a budget of $72 million, responsible management should prevent having to choose between teacher salaries, academics, sports, reliable transportation or special education resources.

In the 1990s, Holmdel High School ranked among the top 10 schools in NJ while spending less per student. Today, it’s ranked #52 by U.S. News & World Report. Our long-term goal is to raise academic performance across all schools and restore Holmdel’s reputation for excellence. Supporting a curriculum that builds critical thinking is more important than ever, especially as AI continues to shape the future.

If elected, I’ll work with the Town Council to find savings through shared vendor contracts, helping our tax dollars go further. I’ll push for fiscal transparency, ethical leadership, smart budgeting to control taxes, cut waste, and make every tax dollar count.

Holmdel taxpayers deserve disciplined leaders with the skills to analyze the budget, ask the right questions, and get spending back on track.

Name one thing about Holmdel that always makes you smile.
It is difficult to name just one thing that makes Holmdel special. For me, it’s the overall quality of life here — the blend of great schools, a strong sense of community, and a central location that offers easy access to NYC, proximity to beaches, diverse dining options, and the arts.

Holmdel’s rich history, beautiful parks and open spaces, and well-rounded resources truly make it the total package. It offers the best of both worlds — urban conveniences in a parklike setting. Together, all these qualities make me grateful to call Holmdel home — it is an exceptional place to live and raise a family.