Howell Council Election 2024: Betty Lou Velez-Gimbel

HOWELL, NJ — Patch is again publishing profiles of local candidates in the 2024 election, set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

In Howell Township, the mayor and one council seat are up for election.

There are two candidates seeking to succeed Theresa Berger as mayor. John Leggio is the Republican candidate running on the No Strings Attached slogan, after winning a three-way primary in June. John Hughes is the Democratic candidate.

There is one seat open on the Township Council. Incumbent Evelyn Malsbury O'Donnell, a Republican, is seeking re-election to the four-year seat. Rebecca Scott is the Democratic candidate, and Betty Lou Velez-Gimbel, running on the Vision With Action slogan, is an independent.

The candidates received the same questions. Here is the response from Betty Lou Velez-Gimbel.

Name: Betty Lou Velez-Gimbel

Age: 52

Family: One of 5 children. Blessed with a large loving extended family. Married 28 years to Charles Gimbel, high school sweethearts.

Education: BA: Psychology, MA: Education w/ School Counselor Certification

Occupation: Toms River Regional Schools - Middle School Guidance Counselor (8 years) - previous 20-year teacher.

Any previous elected office or appointments in local government? No.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for. No.

Why are you running for office? I have been working diligently the past few years to preserve Howell’s rural character. While fighting to stop an over 200,000-square-foot warehouse and advocating for our farming community, I learned a lot. As a result, I was disappointed by our local government. As a woman of action, I made my decision to dedicate my time to the people of Howell. We deserve more. I will continue fighting overdevelopment and support zoning regulations that keep our community’s charm intact, as I did on Victory Road.

What do you see as the biggest issue facing Howell Township right now and how would you address it?

The biggest issue facing Howell Township is multifaceted, but at its core is quality of life.

- Responsible siting of affordable housing projects in the coming year
- Rental Over-occupancy
- A dwindling farming community and the need to adopt ordinances that are farm-friendly
- A need to implement zoning regulations that will protect residential zones from industrial development
- Redevelopment of the Route 9 corridor to increase ratables

These issues are complex and will need to be addressed comprehensively by a motivated Council and Administration with the goal of protecting the quality of life for all of our residents.

Name one thing about Howell Township that always makes you smile.

Our rich and beautiful agricultural history. The farms that are sprinkled throughout Howell make me smile. My vision for our farming community is to champion Howell as a recreational farm destination for families throughout the county.