Election 2017: Brick GOP Selects Brando To Challenge Ducey In Mayoral Race

BRICK, NJ — Former Brick Township Councilman Domenick Brando has been chosen to lead the slate of four Republican candidates challenging incumbent Mayor John Ducey and three current council members in the November election.

John Catalano, president of the Brick Township Republican Club, and Brian DeLuca, the Brick Republican County Committee Chairman, announced Brando will challenge Ducey, the Democrat who is seeking re-election after his first term as mayor.

In addition, Marilyn Lago, John Ciocco and Lois Turner have been selected to run against incumbent councilmembers Marianna Pontoriero, Paul Mummolo and Heather deJong. All three were elected to the council in 2013.

Brando, 49, is a retired police officer who suffered debilitating injuries while on the job said he believes “we need to realistically tackle and face up to one of the worst drug epidemics in Ocean County.” He is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson with a bachelor's degree in engineering and has two children. Brando said he would articulate his agenda in the coming months.

Marilyn Lago, 69, is a 44-year resident and a retired award-winning Toms River teacher and has three children She has a master's degree from Seton Hall and has been an active volunteer in various groups including the Police Athletic League and the Brick Municipal Anti-Drug Coalition and has dedicated her life to working with children. She said she believes “more transparency and information on township matters are needed," and that "an informed taxpayer would not condone the secrecy that is carried on by the current administration."

John Ciocco, 52, has two children in the Brick Township school system and has lived in the township for 20 years. He has a master's on business administration from St John’s University and is a past president of the Rotary Club. He has served as a commissioner of the Brick Housing Authority and the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority. He is a business owner and has extensive experience in the financial sector. Ciocco said he knows how to "put together an efficient budget that can save taxpayers more than the laughable but sad proposal of a $15 tax cut proposed by the mayor and his lock-stepped council.”

Lois Turner, 59, is a 30-year resident of Brick and raised two children. She earned a bachelor's degree from Montclair State University and is employed in the insurance industry. Her husband is a retired teacher and coach. She said that while she is new to the political process, she was driven to come off the sidelines and offer her passion for working for the recovery of this once safe and beautiful township that her family chose to call their home. Turner said she has personally seen the “tragic effect of drugs on the youth of the township and the sadness of foreclosures brought on by unaffordable taxes.”

The four are running on the "Team Brando Building a Better Brick" ticket, with Allan Cartine appointed as the campaign manager.

Cartine said the team is endorsed by the Regular Republican Organization of Ocean County and will be placed in the official Republican column beneath the Republican candidates for the gubernatorial, state Legislature and Ocean County races.

“I ams proud that the selection process chose this truly qualified and distinguished group that represent diversified and experienced business, financial and pragmatic problem-solvers,” Catalano said.

“They represent a cross section of our constituency," DeLuca said, "our seniors as well as those families with children struggling to pay their mortgages and property taxes. Our candidates truly understand the major problems facing the township and believe that their vision of building a better Brick is within reach.”

Photos, provided by the Brick Republican Club, clockwise from top left: Domenick Brando, Marilyn Lago, John Ciocco, and Lois Turner