Politics & Government

Matawan-Aberdeen Election Day: What You Need to Know

Be an informed voter Today

Polls are now open and residents of Matawan and Aberdeen will walk into their local polling places (find your polling location here) and select who should run their respective municipality, county and state.

Take a few moments to review the ballots (attached under the photo) and candidates.

Aberdeen Council

The candidates for Aberdeen Township council are generally focused on redevelopment projects, local infrastructure and municipal taxes. Eight candidates are competing for four seats, without only one incumbent in the race. Read more about the candidates

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Matawan Council

The candidates for Matawan Borough Council are all generally focused on property taxes and generating local business in the area. Hopefuls Peggy Devlin Blazewicz (D) and William Cole (D) will compete for the two open council seats against incumbents Tom Fitzsimmons (R) and Joe Urbano (R). Read more about the candidates

Matawan Mayor

Incumbent Paul Buccellato (R) and hopeful Adele Sammarco (D) are going head to head for the mayoral seat in this election. Read more about the candidates

Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

District 12 (includes Matawan)

The newly redistricted 12th Legislative District will now include Allentown Borough, Englishtown Borough, Jackson Township, Manalapan Township, Matawan Borough, Millstone Township, North Hanover Township, Plumsted Township, Roosevelt Borough and Upper Freehold Township.

State Assembly

Four candidates, two Democrats and two Republicans, are vying for two State Assembly seats representing District 12. Learn more about the role of a state senator and candidates Catherine Tinny Rome, Bill Spedding, Ronald Stanley Dancer and Robert Clifton

State Senate

The Republican incumbent and Democratic challenger will go head to head for the District 12 Senate seat. Learn more about Sam Thompson (R) and Robert "Bob" Brown (D)

District 13 (includes Aberdeen)

The new District 13 now encompasses the Monmouth County communities of Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keansburg, Keyport, Little Silver, Marlboro, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Rumson, Sea Bright, and Union Beach.

State Senate

Four people running in the District 13 Legislative race on Nov. 8 are facing a formidable incumbent, state Senator Joseph Kyrillos, Jr. The five-term state Senator, of Middletown, known for his support of Gov. Chris Christie's "Tool Kit" initiatives to reform state government, is considered a very strong candidate for re-election in a Republican-leaning district. But his opponents say anything can happen, if enough people desire change. Running against him is Democrat Christopher G. Cullen, and three independents: Karen Anne Zalatel of Keep Monmouth Green; Stephen J. Boracchia of the Constitution Party, and MacDara F. Lyden of Jobs-Economy-Honesty. Read more about the candidates

State Assembly

The District 13 General Assembly Race has six candidates on the ballot, including two Republican incumbents. Statewide redistricting has added new faces to the area, but the issues undoubtedly remain the same. An assemblyman or assemblywoman is involved in the lower house of the state legislature, and two are elected in each district. The state legislature is responsible for sponsoring and passing bills, which must pass in both the lower house and senate to become law. Read about the candidates

Monmouth County

Freeholders

The crowded Monmouth County freeholder race features six candidates vying for two seats on the board. Learn more about the role of a Monmouth County Freeholder and the candidates Lillian Burry, Amy Mallet, Tom Markowski, Patrick Noble, Gary Rich and William Shea

Surrogate

The surrogate’s office deals with roughly 3,300 estates a year, involving will validity, trustees and executors, determining estate administrators for those who die without wills, clearing up matters concerning signatures on wills and probate, guardianship, adoptions, trust fund administration and holdings. Michael Steinhorn (D) will challenge incumbent Rosemarie Peters (R) for the seat, which pays $100,000 a year. Read more about the candidates and the role of the surrogate

Sports Betting Referendum

New Jersey residents will be asked whether or not they want to authorize the legislature to allow wagering on sports events at Atlantic City casinos and on horse racetracks.

The ballot explains the ordinance:

A "Yes" vote on this question would allow the Legislature, when permitted by federal law, to legalize the placing of bets on certain sports events at casinos, racetracks, and former racetrack sites. Currently, federal law only permits this type of betting in Nevada and Delaware. It also occurs through illegal betting operations. If legalized in New Jersey, bets could be placed on professional, college, or amateur sports or athletic events, except that bets could not be placed on any college sports or athletic event that takes place in New Jersey or in which a New Jersey college team is playing.

According to an article in the Asbury Park Press, Gov. Chris Christie supports the referendum but the National Football League opposes it. This article explains the in's and out's of the referendum, and how betting would take place if approved.


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