Meet Shawn Wallach, Democrat Running For Middletown Township Committee

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Nov. 4 will be an election for Middletown Township Committee and school board.

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.

What is your name, age and office you are running for?

Shawn Wallach, 53, candidate for Middletown Township Committee.

What is your occupation?

I’ve practiced law for over twenty years, managing my own firm in Red Bank and New York before becoming general counsel for a company based in Edison. After Superstorm Sandy, I represented hundreds of residents and businesses up and down the Shore to fight for money they were owed but did not receive from their insurance companies.

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

My wife Melissa and I have called Middletown home for nearly 25 years and live in the Oak Hill section. Our son Sam grew up in the Middletown school system, attending Nut Swamp Elementary School, Thompson Middle School and Middletown High School South, and is now a junior at Tulane.

Have you ever run for elected office before?

No, this is my first run for public office. I’ve always been interested and at some point, you just have to do something if you don’t like what you are seeing out of your elected officials.

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

I believe everything we want to accomplish in Middletown is possible but only if we come together to do it. This election won’t flip the balance of power on the Township Committee, but it will create something we haven’t had in a long time: A check on what has become unfettered one-party control at the local level.

Some of the poor decisions made over the last decade weren’t because they reflected what was best for the town or what most residents wanted. They were made because a small group of officials decided, for whatever reason, that’s what they preferred. My goal is to offer a voice of reason. Just having someone on the Committee who will ask questions openly, share information honestly, and speak directly to residents will lead to better outcomes for everyone.

My career has been built on working with opposing lawyers who don’t share my point of view, but I have learned that by listening carefully we can find solutions that work for all sides. That’s the approach I’ll bring to local government — less politics, more problem-solving.

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

The Township Committee has had the same party composition for 15 years, and one-party control for over 40. When one group holds power that long, accountability fades and complacency sets in. They offer limited transparency and no debate; votes on major issues pass 5-0, and we only find out what the Committee wants us to.

While there’s a lot to love about Middletown, we do have issues. I’ve met a lot of our neighbors as we knock on doors hoping to learn what concerns them. Almost all of them asked the same question: “Will you fix the roads?” A lot of them feel their section of town has been forgotten. Residents want to see their tax dollars going back to their communities. That means repairing roads, fixing dangerous intersections, and slowing traffic on main thoroughfares to keep Middletown safe.

Our schools are the backbone of this community, and what we saw happen this spring was simply not acceptable — not for any town that values its schools. The Township needs to offer support through Shared Services and not wait for the Board of Education to fail our residents.

The current Committee has dug a housing crisis hole so deep it will be hard to repair. By ignoring state law and mandates dating back over 40 years, Middletown has relinquished control over zoning to builders. That means when a builder wants to put a 900-plus unit development on the Circus Liquors lot, the town has essentially lost its power to say no, having instead to waste money on, thus far, losing court battles.

Middletown Republicans always campaign under the slogan “Taxpayers First.” It’s a slogan they recycle year after year, but Middletown residents know better than trusting an empty slogan. Just by opening their tax bill, following the school situation, or seeing the lack of response to infrastructure issues, we see the hollowness of their claim to put us first.

Why should voters vote for you instead?

Because Middletown voters know they deserve better. Jeremy and I are running to bring balance to the Committee — to bring Middletown back to the middle. We need accountability, cooperation and a voice from our residents. We wanted to have this conversation at the League of Women Voters forum that was scheduled this month, but our opponents never accepted the invitation.

Whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, or unaffiliated, I think we can all agree that safe roads, strong schools, and fiscal discipline are not partisan issues. I’ll focus on practical solutions to everyday concerns, striving for safer roads, stronger schools and transparent budgeting. Most important, I will always listen to our residents.

What’s your favorite part about living in Middletown?

Middletown sits at the center of everything that makes New Jersey great. From our vast and beautiful parks, we’re minutes from the beaches, a few miles from local farms and orchards and close enough to the city for an easy commute or a night out. When Mel and I made Middletown home we didn’t know anyone in town, but we met great people along the way and I hope to thank them by serving on the Township Committee and getting our town back to where it should be.

Win or lose, this campaign and the people I’ve met along the way have been a reminder of how much I love New Jersey and our town.

Early in-person voting starts Oct. 25. Middletown Election 2025: Who's Running, When And Where To Vote