Meet Jeremy Seideman, Democrat Running For Middletown Township Committee

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Nov. 4 will be an election for Middletown Township Committee, and seven people are running for three seats on the school board. Early in-person voting starts Oct. 25.

The two current Middletown Committeemen, Rick Hibell and Kevin Settembrino, ask the people of Middletown to re-elect them. They are both Republican and have held the Township Committee seats for years now: Settembrino has been on the Township Committee for the past 15 years, and Hibell for seven.

For more than a decade now, the Middletown Township Committee has been entirely made up of Republicans.

Two Democrats are running this year, Shawn Wallach and Jeremy Seideman.

Patch asked all four candidates a similar set of questions, and we will be publishing responses from all four.

Your name, age and office you are running for.

I am Jeremy Seideman, I am 46 years old, and I am running for Township Committee in Middletown.

What is your occupation?

I am a technology professional, and I am a research scientist in computer science. My work has involved designing systems for multiple industries, including digital publishing and financial services. My research has been in the fields of computer security and AI/Machine Learning.

How long have you lived in Middletown and what part of town do you live in?

I have lived in Middletown for two years, and I live in the Fair View neighborhood. I quickly learned what our town has to offer, but also saw where it was lacking. Knowing that I intended to stay here for a very long time, I knew right away that I wanted to be active in the community, and help make Middletown the best it could be for all residents. I saw how many residents felt that things were not going to change for the better, and I felt that was unacceptable. We have a great town, and the improvements that Shawn and I hope to bring are necessary to keep it that way.

Have you ever run for elected office before? Please list all races and their outcomes, and how long you held that elected office.

This is my first campaign for an elected public office. However, I was elected to several leadership positions on various student and joint faculty-student committees in university, as well as leadership positions in charitable and non-profit organizations.

What are your specific accomplishments and skills that would make you a good Township Committee representative?

My work, professionally and academically, has led to me making data-driven decisions. Taking into account multiple observations, viewpoints, and source of information helps ensure that a decision is justifiable and is more likely to serve the people of the Township.

I have a track record of innovation, and have been seen as a prolific inventor in my professional life. This means that I am known to look “outside the box” to try to find solutions that can solve many issues, often in ways that differ from the existing methods.

Working as an engineer and a systems designer has equipped me with problem-solving skills, and an ability to look for ways to make all of the pieces fit together as part of a larger whole. This will help “connect the dots” across all of the departments and services within the Middletown government.

My work in charity and non-profits has helped me learn to see the often hidden ways that people are struggling. Because of this, I also know how to connect with them in order to provide better paths to resolution with their situations.

Please give some examples of how you think the current Middletown Township. Committee has failed the public, or not represented them well.

The recent events surrounding the tax increases due to the BOE has been a lightning rod for criticism, and has illuminated some of the issues with the local government. While the BOE is a distinct entity not under the control of the Township Committee, the truth is that the Committee, as leaders of the town, needs to work with other town leadership to ensure that this kind of event does not happen again. The Township Committee must do everything it can to help offset these tax increases when possible.

If that means providing shared services, then instead of just proposing services and then failing to follow through, the Committee must either fulfill their obligation or be able to explain, in a very accessible manner, why they could not. This tax increase has been the biggest issue that has come up during our campaign, from people who have voted for both Democrats and Republicans.

The township infrastructure needs a lot of improvement. There are neighborhoods where entire streets are pockmarked with potholes, sidewalks are overgrown and crumbling, and parks are poorly maintained. While yes, the township has made great progress with the infrastructure and has made many significant improvements, the truth is that people are less inclined to care about new buildings or improved parks in other parts of the township when their own local buildings, roads, and parks are in a state of disrepair. People deserve answers as to why their own roads are unsafe, but the town can buy up land to transform into green spaces.

Then, there is the topic of housing and development. The Township has been involved in multiple lawsuits over how to satisfy their obligations to provide housing, and to make sure that housing is affordable and attainable. The Township has certain constitutional obligations that, if not fulfilled, require the courts to step in. Instead of working to resolve their compliance issues, the Township has decided to pursue legal action. The money that is being spent on these challenges could better be used to support our own programs and events. As a result, zoning decisions are made without taking the township’s own community needs into account, and instead are decided by outsiders with different goals. Development must meet community needs, to both preserve the character of the township while also making it possible for the Township to grow.

Finally, there is a general lack of representation among the committee for the people that live in Middletown. Their views and agenda do not align with the majority of the people who live in Middletown (based on voter registration statistics). This means that the voice of large parts of this town is silenced, because in a situation where a single party — any single party — maintains control over a committee for an extended period of time, progress slows in the big picture. Sure, the people who align with the committee’s views see things working in their favor, but overall, the people are not adequately represented. Changing the makeup of the committee will ensure that everyone gets a seat at the table, and representatives that will look out for the needs of all Middletown residents.

Why should voters vote for you instead?

The current makeup of the committee is a group of representatives from a single party, meaning they are united under a single unified agenda. As a result, all decisions are made along those same party lines. In other words, you do not see the kind of debate and discussion that are key parts of the democratic process. The overall decisions adhere to that agenda, and may or may not take into account the voice of Middletown residents, many of whom do not necessarily align with that agenda.

Voters should vote for me because my goal, especially working with Shawn Wallach, is to bring transparency and accountability back to the Committee. Shawn is a long-time resident, and I am a newer resident. This means that as a team, we will be able to look at each issue through that dual lens – how and why it has been this way, and new ways it can be resolved. Bringing my fresh perspective tempered by Shawn’s long tenure in the town will lead many positive changes for the town.

The people we have spoken with feel they are not well-represented, so we want to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table. We want to ask the hard questions, drive the debate, and make sure that we can justify decisions that the committee makes, especially as they relate to people’s tax dollars and development plans. Decisions should be made using all available data and should be made for the benefit of the community, not rubber stamped because they align with the agenda of any one group. The committee is meant to work for the people of Middletown.

What's your favorite part about living in Middletown?

I am not originally from Middletown — I am originally from New York City. When my partner and I wanted a better life, we looked at towns that were between our work locations — my office (in Manhattan) and her university (in Ocean County). We very quickly zeroed in on Middletown because it is a safe, family-oriented community that is a great place to live and raise a family, and nearly every house we viewed was in Middletown.

We were impressed with the local culture, the proximity to multiple metropolitan areas and the way the town maintains a “small town” vibe while still being part of the larger NYC metropolitan area. The expansive green spaces are inviting for outdoor activities, and the proximity to beaches — especially free beaches — provide a great experience during the summer.

Meet Shawn Wallach, Democrat Running For Middletown Township Committee

Middletown Election 2025: Who's Running, When And Where To Vote