Misleading Voters Isn’t Leadership: Integrity Matters in Holmdel

The Truth Matters in Holmdel

From the moment Holmdel Township Committee candidates Greg Buontempo and Prakash Santhana launched their campaign, they have misled Holmdel voters. Their campaign signs, displayed throughout town, falsely identify them as “Mayor” and “Deputy Mayor.”

The truth? Neither currently serves in any official role on the Holmdel Township Committee.

This deception matters. Leadership begins with honesty—and Holmdel deserves leaders who respect the truth, not ones who manipulate it for political gain.

Their campaign hasn’t just been misleading—it’s been divisive. They've launched unfounded attacks against Mayor Brian Foster and Deputy Mayor Kim LaMountain, spreading fabricated storylines with the goal of sowing doubt and confusion. It’s a continuation of a pattern we've seen before.

Back in 2022, while Holmdel families were struggling to recover from the impacts of COVID, Buontempo and Santhana top priority was leading a push to quietly change Holmdel’s long-standing township form of local government—without transparency and with limited public understanding—during a rushed summer special election while many residents were away.

They literally tried to delete "Township" from Holmdel Township for their own political gain. This should infuriate every Holmdel resident.

I attended those meetings. I asked questions and I was shut down. They offered no clear answers. They silenced residents like myself, a Holmdel resident of 45 years, who simply wanted to understand the truth.

It was clear something wasn’t right. And in time, we all learned it wasn’t. Thanks to the efforts of an engaged group of residents who informed the community, Holmdel voters overwhelmingly rejected the plan. Soon after, Prakash Santhana resigned from the Township Committee before finishing his term.

Now, they’re back — and the same tactics are on display. Misleading signs. Misrepresentation. These are not the traits of leaders who deserve to represent our town.

Next Tuesday, June 10th, we have a choice.

Let’s vote for integrity. Let’s vote for transparency. Let’s vote for leaders who respect this community and its people.

✅ Vote for Mayor Brian Foster and Deputy Mayor Kim LaMountain — leaders who have earned our trust through integrity and action. We may not always agree with our elected officials, but we should all agree on this: Holmdel deserves leaders who lead with truth and character.

Disclaimer: These statements reflect my personal views as a private citizen, not those of the Board of Education or its members.