Unlike last year’s primary, which saw a noisy and ultimately unsuccessful campaign by Josh Gottheimer, this year’s primary election season has remained mostly quiet so far. Early voting begins Tuesday, May 26, and runs through Sunday, May 31, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except Sunday when polls close at 6 p.m. Election Day will be held Tuesday, June 2, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lakewood residents may vote at Town Hall or at any public polling location in Ocean County, including locations in Jackson, Brick, and the Manchester Library. Early voting continues through Sunday, followed by Election Day on Tuesday, June 2.

Last year, approximately 250 residents switched their party affiliation from Republican to Democrat for the primary election. Under New Jersey law, voters who wished to switch back were required to do so at least 55 days before the primary. Registered Democrats may vote only in the Democratic primary, and Republicans only in the Republican primary. Independent voters may declare a party affiliation at the polling place on Election Day.

In Lakewood, two seats on the Township Committee are up for election

this year.  Mayor Ray Coles is running on the Democratic ticket, while Debbie Fuentes is seeking reelection as a Republican. Challenging for the Republican nomination are resident Aaron Hirsch, a regular presence at Township Committee meetings, and current fire commissioner Moshe Raitzik. You can vote  for  two candidates on the republican ticket.

 On the Democratic side, Harriet Goldberg is running alongside Coles on the ballot.

Lakewood Township Committee candidate Aaron Hirsch is a frequent attendee at township  meetings, is campaigning on issues he says directly impact local families, including disruptive road closures, school funding inequities, and rising property taxes. Hirsch criticized the lack of coordination between state and local agencies over road work scheduled on Erev Shabbos and Erev Yom Tov, pledging to push for greater accountability to prevent future disruptions. He also highlighted what he described as unfair treatment in state education funding, noting that Lakewood has the largest K-12 student population in New Jersey but ranks 77th in school funding. According to Hirsch, the funding shortfall has forced the township to rely on loans and higher property taxes, while local leadership has failed to secure meaningful results. He vowed to advocate aggressively for resources and policies that better support Lakewood residents.

Candidate Moshe Raitzik has been dedicated  to Lakewood serving on various boards. In his recent campaign for Lakewood it focused on safety, transparency, infrastructure, and taxpayer accountability. Raitzik has pledged to push for safer development by increasing oversight of traffic, fire access, sidewalks, and neighborhood safety concerns tied to new construction projects. He also says Lakewood’s master plan must be updated so roads, utilities, and infrastructure can properly support the township’s continued growth.

Raitzik has also emphasized the need for greater public involvement in local government. He supports restoring in-person Township Committee meetings to make it easier for residents to participate and voice concerns. In addition, he is advocating for expanded hazardous-road busing for children who currently walk on unsafe roads without sidewalks.

A current fire commissioner and former Board of Education and Planning Board member, Raitzik says his background in education and public service gives him firsthand understanding of the needs of Lakewood families.