Lacey Republicans and Democrats Select 2013 Candidates

White smoke may not have risen but the Republicans and Democrats of Lacey have selected candidates for the 2013 elections.

Two seats on the Committee are open this year—those of Democrats Sean Sharkey and Helen DelaCruz.

DelaCruz was re-endorsed by the Lacey Democrats while Sharkey announced in February that he would not be seeking re-election. Gary Vaccaro will once again vie for a seat on the Committee.

Chris Reid and Peter Curatolo are backed by the Lacey Republicans in hopes to recapture the two seats that were lost to the Democrats in 2010.

“I think both of them are going to be very good candidates,” Committeeman Gary Quinn said. “Both are very involved in the community.”

Reid grew up in Lacey and is the township Public Defender, a member of the Planning Board and President of the Lacey Republican Club.

“He’s going to be a tremendous asset because he’s a homegrown boy. He has had a lot of experience the last couple years,” Quinn said. 

Curatolo is the Ocean County Intoxicated Driver Resource Center Director and Republican Club Financial Secretary.

“He’s got a lot of roots in the community,” Quinn said.

Curatolo recently orchestrated a countywide event, honoring students of Lacey Township for the efforts in promoting a drug free community.

“They’re getting into it for the right reason,” Quinn said. “They want to do what’s best for the residents of Lacey.”

A ‘W’ is central to the Democrats, as a loss would leave a Committee dominated by Republicans, Democratic Municipal Chairman Barry Bendar previously said.

Before Sharkey and DelaCruz took office, the last Democrat to sit on the Committee was in 2006 and before that 2000, Bendar said. 

DelaCruz brings experience to the campaign, Bendar said.

“She brings, as far as I’m concerned, something that’s been missing for a very long time—the human touch, a little more compassion than some of the others,” he said.

Vaccaro, who ran for Committee in 2011 against Republican and current Mayor David Most, will add a wealth of knowledge, Bendar said. As a Regulatory Compliance/H&S Supervisor at Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority, he’s a government worker and has environmental concerns.

“His focus is the welfare and wellbeing of the citizens of Lacey Township,” he said. “Hopefully the second time is a charm.”

The candidates will be made official once they file a petition with the County on Monday, April 1.

Continue to follow Lacey Patch for more information on the candidates and elections.

Other important election dates:

• Tuesday, May 14, voter registration deadline for the primary election
• Tuesday, May 28, last day for the County Clerk to receive by mail June primary election mail-in ballot application
• Tuesday, June 4, primary election day
• Tuesday, June 4, petition filing deadline for independent candidates for the general election
• Tuesday, Oct. 15, voter registration deadline for November general election
• Tuesday, Nov. 5, general election day