2023 Lakewood Election Guide: Decision Day

LAKEWOOD, NJ — The 2023 general election is upon us, and the polls open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7.

If you chose to vote by mail, you have until 8 p.m. to turn in your ballot, using a secure drop box, mailing your ballot back or hand-delivering it to the Ocean County Board of Elections.

There are races for Township Committee, school board and the fire district in Lakewood, along with county races and the New Jersey Senate and Assembly.

Here is what you need to know about voting in Lakewood:

The Rundown

• Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7. Polling locations are open 6 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Vote-by-mail ballots: Must be postmarked by 8 p.m. Nov. 7, must be received by Nov. 13
• Where can I drop off my vote-by-mail ballot?
• Track my mail-in ballot.
• Voting in person on Nov. 7 but not sure of your polling place? Search it on the NJ Division of Elections Polling Place search. All you need is your street address and ZIP code.

Who Is On The Ballot?

Voters are being asked to choose candidates for the New Jersey State Legislature, Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the local level in 2023.

NJ Senate and Assembly

Lakewood is in the 30th District. Seeking the state Senate seat, a four-year term, are Republican Robert W. Singer, who is the incumbent and has served in the state Senate since 1993. He also served in the Assembly from 1986-1989, and then in 1992 until he moved over to the Senate in 1993. He is opposed by the Democratic candidate, Stephen Dobbins. He is the owner and creative director of Stormin' Arts Productions.

For the two, two-year Assembly terms, the Republican incumbents Sean T. Kean and Edward H. Thomson are opposed by the Democratic slate of Salvatore "Sal" Frascino and Alexander "Avi" Schnall.

Ocean County Surrogate and Board of Commissioners

There is one three-year term available on the Board of Commissioners, as Joseph Vicari is retiring at the end of 2023 after more than 35 years on the board. Republican Frank Sadeghi and Democrat Roxanne L. Barnes are vying for the seat. Sadeghi is the founder of Morgan Engineering, a firm that provides municipal engineering services. Barnes is a pastor and founded Newlife Counseling Center, where she works as a professional substance abuse and anger management family counselor.

The Surrogate is a five-year term. The candidates are Republican Jeffrey W. Moran and Democrat Charles D. Bauer. Moran is the incumbent. He was appointed to the post in June 2003, and was elected in November 2003, then re-elected in 2008, 2013, and 2018. Bauer is an attorney in private practice in Toms River.

The duties of the Surrogate are mostly administrative. They provide for the administration of an estate, whether it be the process of admitting a will to probate or grant letters of administration to an appropriate person to carry on the duties of the decedent. Letters of Guardianship are also granted to persons for minor children who are awarded funds through a court or from an estate as well as guardians for mentally incapacitated persons. As Clerk of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Chancery Division, Probate Part, the Surrogate's Court reviews and files adoptions, declaration of death actions, appointment of guardian for an incapacitated persons, trusteeships, conservatorship and accounts.

Lakewood Township Committee, Board of Education, Fire Commissioners

There are two, three-year terms available on the Township Committee and five people seeking election. Ray Coles, who currently serves as mayor, is on the Democratic ticket. He is joined by Jimmy Esposito. Bruce Stern and Deborah Fuentes are the Republican candidates, and Hershel Herskowitz is running on the slogan "The People's Lakewood."

There are seven candidates seeking election to the three, three-year terms on the Board of Education. They are: Ada Gonzalez; Moshe Raitzik; Eliyahu Greenwald; Yehuda Shain, on the slogan "Accountability and Transparency"; and Avrohom Schubert, Eli Eisenbach and Yoni Morgenstern, all on the "Fixing the Formula" slogan.

In addition, Lakewood's Fire District is holding elections for the Board of Fire Commissioners. There are two, three-year terms available and three candidates: Dovid Bender, Aaron Hirsch, and Harrison Pfeffer.