Barnegat Township Committee Election 2026: Cassandra Licata-Link

BARNEGAT, NJ — Election Day is Nov. 3, and voters will have their say on local, school board and county elections.

Ahead of the 2026 election, Patch will be publishing profiles on local candidates. Here's what Democrat Township Committee candidate Cassandra Licata-Link had to say.

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Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 3 general election. These responses will be published edited only for style. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) can contact veronica.flesher@patch.com.

Name: Cassandra Licata-Link

Age: 49

Education: Graduated 1999 from King's College with B.A. Criminal Justice & B.A. Sociology

Occupation: Supervising Administrative Analyst, "Program Manager"

Family: Married to my husband for 24 years with my daughter and son. My daughter is a sophomore in college, and my son is a senior at Barnegat high school.

What drove you to seek public office?
I have worked in the public sector for over 20 years and have volunteered for Pop Warner and Special Olympics. With my experience in managing budget & operations and my time volunteering with the community, it was time to get involved in public office to continue to help the community. I feel that the committee has been complacent due to the one-party rule for decades and the committee is not listening to the needs of Barnegat residents. I want to be the voice of the residents in Barnegat.

What qualifications and experience do you have that make you a good fit for this role?
I have worked in the public sector for over 20 years. Currently, I am the manager of budget & operations in my division. I have developed and implemented budgets for different units, divisions and departments within state government following the state treasury rules and regulations. I have managed the operations of thirteen units in thirteen facilities in state government. I have developed and implemented policy and procedures to produce efficient operations. My experience in state government has given me knowledge on how to operate in an emergent situation while being able to effectively manage the funding within the constraints of a budget.

What sets you apart from other candidates?
My qualifications and experience listed above are the first things that set me apart. In addition, I am a woman and younger than the other candidates, which means I can bring in new and fresh ideas for Barnegat. Also, I am a mother currently raising my children in Barnegat. So, I can relate to what families need & want in our town. Furthermore, my husband has been a firefighter since he was 17 years old and I worked in public safety, so I understand the needs of the fire department and the police department.

What is the most pressing issue facing Barnegat?
Taxes, everyone would like their taxes to decrease. With my budget experience, I would like to take a deep dive in how we are managing our funding, apply for more grant funding and utilize the $16 million surplus to leave our tax rate the same or lower the taxes.

If elected, what will your top priority be?
Our top priority is to focus on the budget and the utilization of the township funds. We want to ensure that we are spending the funds properly and efficiently. We plan to apply for grant funding to fix our roads, especially the roads that are unpaved and improve infrastructure. We also want to bring in grant funding to upgrade our playgrounds with accessible equipment. Marianne and I want to bring more programs to the Recreation Department for families, teens, and seniors.

What is your favorite thing about living in Barnegat?
My favorite thing about living in Barnegat is the Bay. I love the peace, quiet, and beauty of the Bay, it is Barnegat's little hidden gem. The residents of Barnegat are so warm and welcoming. Also, I love the small town feel of Barnegat, especially in comparison to Middlesex County, where we moved from.