Aberdeen Deputy Mayor, 3 Councilmen Ask To Be Re-Elected Nov. 7

ABERDEEN, NJ — The election for Aberdeen town council will be next Tuesday, Nov. 7.

All four Aberdeen Council members seek re-election. They are: Greg Cannon, Arthur Hirsch, Robert Swindle and Connie Kelley, all Democrats.

They will be challenged by four Aberdeen residents who are Republican: Susan McGowan, Michael Olesen, Carl Zanchelli and Michael Vail.

Here are quick bios on all four current Aberdeen Council, who they are and why they seek re-election:

Deputy Mayor Connie Kelley:

• Aberdeen resident for 39 years
• Retired Matawan Regional High School teacher
• Trustee, Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library
• Volunteer, Youth Football & Cheer Association
• Member, Aberdeen Council Parks Committee
• Past Liaison, Aberdeen Senior Citizen Board

"We created Aberdeen’s Neighborhood Parks Program, investing more than $15 million into our local parks, with most parks fully renovated, and three currently in progress. If reelected, we will finish the job to reach every neighborhood! We also have directed new revenue from redevelopments toward the restoration of our neighborhood parks, with 10 of Aberdeen’s 15 parks fully renovated since 2017 – if re-elected, we will finish the job!”

Councilman Robert Swindle:

• Aberdeen Resident for 51 Years
• U.S. Army Veteran, 82nd Airborne Division
• Trustee, Mt. Moriah Baptist Church (Cliffwood)
• Past Vice-Chair, Aberdeen Twp. Planning Bd.
• Past President, Shore Knights Social Club
• Past Master, Butler Lodge #42 (Cliffwood)

"We conserved over 300 acres of our remaining woodlands at Freneau Woods Park. If re-elected, we will keep working to preserve Samaha’s Farm to stop any development and keep it a local farm forever. While promoting redevelopment, we have protected Aberdeen’s remaining open spaces — let’s save what we have!”

Councilman Greg Cannon:

• Fourth-generation Aberdeen resident
• Aberdeen small-business owner
• Past V.P. of Matawan-Aberdeen Public Library
• Parishioner, St. Clement Catholic Church
• Member, Keyport-Matawan Elks Lodge #2030
• Aberdeen/Matawan Youth Sports Coach

"By growing Aberdeen’s ratable base and streamlining government operations, we’ve cut Aberdeen’s tax levy (the amount residents pay) by more than $1 million, from a total of $13.89M in 2019 down to $12.88M in 2023. We have worked for years to approve and promote the various economic redevelopments that finally resulted in municipal tax cuts for Aberdeen homeowners in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 — let’s keep it going!”

Councilman Artie Hirsch:

• Aberdeen resident for 36 Years
• Past Board Officer, Temple Beth Ahm
• Member, Aberdeen Council Roads Committee
• Past Member, Aberdeen Economic Business Council
• Past Member, Aberdeen Twp. Planning Board
• Past Aberdeen/Matawan Youth Sports Coach

"We created Aberdeen’s Road Replacement Program that has invested over $25 million in our roads since 2017. If re-elected, we will continue to replace failing roads in every corner of Aberdeen. We have ensured that new revenue from redevelopment projects goes toward the restoration of our aging streets, increasing Aberdeen’s annual investments from $2M in 2015 up to $3.5M in 2023 — let’s get it done!”

Meet The 4 Aberdeen Republican Council Candidates (Oct. 23)