Meet The Candidates Running For Holmdel Committee Monday, May 13

HOLMDEL, NJ — This year, Holmdel is in the very rare position of having four Republican candidates run for two open seats on the Holmdel Township Committee. Even more unusual is that all of the candidates running are Republican; there are no Democrats running this year. (Local Democrats have long tried to make inroads in the Holmdel Twp. Committee, usually without success.)

So the Republican primary coming up on June 4 will be the one to watch. To that end, a group called Citizens for Informed Land Use has organized a public forum this coming Monday night, May 13 to meet all the candidates running.

This forum will be Monday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Holmdel senior/community center at 6 Crawfords Corner Road. All the candidates running have confirmed they will be there to meet voters, with the exception of Nike Teetelli (it's unclear if he's still running, but his name will still appear on the ballot).

The four candidates who will be there Monday night are: Eric Hinds (longtime Holmdel Township committeeman, current mayor), Chiung-Yin Cheng Liu, Kimberley Lamountain and Mike Nikolis. Like Hinds, Nikolis has served on the Holmdel Twp. Committee for years, and he is currently serving as deputy mayor. However, he had a falling out with the Monmouth County Republican Party this spring, and is running without the support of the county Republican party. Nikolis, did, however receive the endorsement of the Holmdel Republican Party by a 2-1 vote.

WHO/WHAT: In an unusual primary, there are at least four Republican candidates for the two seats for the Holmdel Township Committee and no Democratic candidates. Citizens for Informed Land Use (“CILU”) will be hosting a Candidate Forum for residents to get to know the candidates.

WHEN: Monday, May 13, 2019, 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Holmdel Senior/Community Center, 6 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733

WHY: 2019 has already been an unusual year for Holmdel Township.

For a quick primer, here what's been going on in Holmdel this winter and spring:

1. In response to an alarming study that found Holmdel has an immediate need for more firefighters — and a centrally-located firehouse — Mayor Eric Hinds suggested building a new fire station at Bell Works in exchange for developer Ralph Zucker being allowed to build 195 "micro-apartments" (about 700 square feet). Read: Holmdel May Build New Bell Works Fire House In Exchange For Apts

2. However, after some residents said they basically hated that idea, the plan was taken off the table. After tabling the idea, the Twp. Committee said they would instead borrow $5 million to invest in the fire department and may move to a hybrid volunteer/paid department, with some paid firefighters during the daytime hours. Read: Holmdel Bell Works Firehouse Plan Off The Table

3. Some residents are also upset that last month Hinds quietly introduced a proposal for a $2-million artificial turf field at the Holmdel Swim Club into the Township Committee consent agenda — without any formal public discussion on the idea. Again, after significant resident outcry, that idea was also tabled. However, Hinds did tell Patch in a recent interview that it's no secret he wants to build more turf fields in Holmdel, and that he will continue to work towards this goal.

4. Also, the soon-to-be-approved 2019 municipal budget shows an anticipated revenue of $1 million from Payments in Lieu of Taxes (“PILOT”) money in the budget, which means the town's portion of the tax bill will not go up. However, that money is not going to the Holmdel school system. As Patch reported this week, the Holmdel school budget that was just approved has a tax increase by more than $1 million. Unlike a town's traditional taxes (about 80% of which goes to the local schools), PILOT payments are not shared with the local school system.

Worth noting that this is the second year in a row Holmdel's school taxes have increased:

Tax Hike As Holmdel Launches Full-Day Kindergarten (May 7, 2019)

Holmdel Property Taxes Will Rise With New School Budget (May 1, 2018)

5. Also, a somewhat controversial land swap deal was made last fall in which Holmdel gave up 115 acres at Cross Farm Park in exchange for 14 acres across from the Holmdel High School. New rec facilities will be built across from Holmdel High. Some Holmdel residents criticized the deal for being done in secret, and not all Holmdelians necessarily want more sports fields. Read: Holmdel Adds 13.8 Acres Of Sports Fields In Land Swap With County

Additionally, Committeemen Greg Buontempo and Rocco Pascucci's seats are up for election next year, followed by Committeeman Tom Critelli's seat in 2021. Pascucci told Patch earlier this year he has no interest in seeking another term on the Holmdel Township Committee. So there will definitely be some maneuvering for Pascucci's seat, should he indeed decide not to run.

The primary election is June 4 this year; the general election will be Tuesday, Nov. 5. As they are all Republicans running, whichever two candidates win the June 4 primary will essentially win the general election.