Manchester Bids Farewell To Arace As Mayor, Preps For New Chapter

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township bid a farewell to its mayor and prepared for the future at its 2025 reorganization meeting on Thursday.

Robert Arace addressed those in attendance for his last time as mayor; on Monday, he is set to be sworn in to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.

Arace was elected mayor in November 2022, winning a four-year term after defeating Robert Hudak, who had served the final 18 months of former Mayor Ken Palmer's term after Palmer stepped down in the summer of 2021 to become a Superior Court judge.

"We've done really amazing work. In the last two years, I'd like to say we've done more work in town than we've done in many years prior," he said. "This is not goodbye, but rather a continuation of our shared mission to create a brighter future for Ocean County. Thank you so much."

During his term, the township took steps to try to stabilize rent for some of its lowest-income residents with ordinances setting limits and procedures for rent increases for mobile home parks and similar communities in Manchester.

Craig Wallis, Michele Zolezi, and James A. Vaccaro Sr. were sworn into their new terms on the council. They were unopposed in their re-election bids in the November 2024 general election. Roxanne Conniff, who was chosen to continue as president, and Joseph Hankins are the other two members of the council. Vaccaro was chosen to continue as vice president.

The council will have to choose a new mayor to serve through the end of 2025, with that person expected to come from the council members. The replacement is anticipated to be announced at the Jan. 13 council meeting. The remaining year of Arace's term will be up for election in November.

The council will then interview candidates to fill the unexpired council term.