Lacey School Board Election 2025: Steven P. Gouin

LACEY, NJ — Election Day is Nov. 4, and voters will have their say on New Jersey's next governor. But in Lacey, residents will also vote on local, school board and county elections.

Ahead of the 2025 election, Patch will be publishing profiles on local candidates. Here's what Steven P. Gouin had to say.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 4 general election. These responses will be published edited only for style. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact veronica.flesher@patch.com.

Name: Steven P. Gouin

Age: 40

Education: B.A., Villanova University (2007), Major: Political Science, Minor: Philosophy; Juris Doctorate, Rutgers-Newark Law School (2010), cum laude

Occupation: Attorney

Government experience: Some. After my first year of law school, I clerked at the United States Attorneys’ office. I have represented certain towns in New Jersey on redevelopment matters. I have never held public office or worked full-time in the public sector.

Family: Katie Gouin (wife), Steven Gouin Jr. (son – 9); Alexander Gouin (son – 5)

What drove you to seek public office?

I began paying attention to the school board because my children are both in Lacey Township public school. Understanding that some members of the board were not seeking re-election and others were resigning, I felt that my expertise and experience could be helpful to the board and the Township as the board attempts to navigate a difficult financial situation.

What sets you apart from other candidates?

Fortunately, there are four great candidates running for office. All candidates bring something different to the table, offer unique perspectives, and have diverse backgrounds and personal experiences. I offer an attorney’s perspective, which is something that the board does not currently have. I also have substantial experience dealing with complicated development and construction projects and managing multi-million dollar financings and budgets. I act as general counsel to several different development companies that are active throughout the state of New Jersey. I have contacts in many levels of government throughout the state due to my development work. I think that my experience and perspective managing complicated construction projects will be useful, particularly in light of the current bond referendum.

What is the most pressing issue facing the Lacey Township School District?

For me, it is class size. I do not believe that we can provide students with the type of education required to be provided by the state constitution with class sizes of 30-35 kids in lower grades. This class size puts strain on both teachers and administrators. Without individualized attention, we cannot expect students to achieve to their full capability.

If elected, what will your top priority be?

I am not sure when it happened, and it may date back years, but there is a lack of public trust in the board. I know that the board is made up of hard-working, dedicated people that donate their time, for free to run the best school system possible. The board and district has been hand-cuffed the past few years due to severe cuts in state funding. This is a problem that impacts all residents in Lacey, whether they have school-aged children or not. I believe that there should be a concerted effort to educate the public so that the public can understand the issues facing the district and so that we can engage in a productive dialogue about the best way to move forward.

What is your favorite thing about living in Lacey?

My favorite thing about Lacey is the community. It is a close-knit community that is full of great people who really care about the town. At its core, Lacey is a small town, full of people willing to dedicate their time to improving the resident experience for everyone.