Colts Neck Township Committee Primary Election 2026: Thomas Sullivan & Robert Farrell

COLTS NECK, NJ — This year’s Republican primary race for Township Committee is packed in Colts Neck with three candidates running for two of the party’s open spots.

Candidates Robert Farrell and Thomas Sullivan are running for election to the committee against challenger Kevin T. Walsh.

Subscribe

No one has filed a petition to run for committee in the Democratic primary race.

Ahead of the Primary Election, Patch posed several questions to Farrell and Sullivan about their campaign platform, experience and what sets them apart from other candidates running. Their replies are below.

Editor’s Note: The following article contains information about two of the candidates running for the Colts Neck Township Committee in 2026. Responses are written as received by Patch and only edited for style.

Patch has contacted all other candidates in this race with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

Are you running for the Colts Neck Township Committee? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Robert (Bob) Farrell

Age: 63

Town Of Residence: Colts Neck

Education: BS, Finance, Fairfield University

Occupation: Finance

• 2016-2026 (Co-Founder Blanton Research)
• 2016-2026 (Partner C&A Financial Group)
• 2005-2016 (Various Financial Executive Roles)
• 1998-2004 (Treasurer / Portfolio Manager SFM Capital Management)
• 1989-1998 (Managing Director Banker Trust)

Thomas (Tom) Sullivan

Age: 67

Town Of Residence: Colts Neck

Education: BS Marine Transportation (State University of New York Maritime College, Bronx, NY)

Occupation:

• 2026 (SeasideLNG Senior Advisor)
• 2022-2025 (SeasideLNG - COO)
• 2016-2022 (Northstar Midstream Holdings, LLC - COO)
• 2011-2014 (Kirby Offshore Marine – COO and President of the Atlantic Region)
• 1999-2011 (K-Sea Transportation Partners LP - Chief Operating Officer)
• 1981-1999 (Eklof Marine – Ship and Tugboat Captain)

What drove you to seek public office?

• Bob: For me, it really came down to seeing Colts Neck at a crossroads and deciding that standing on the sidelines was no longer enough. My background is in finance and business, so I look at issues through the lens of fiscal responsibility, long-term planning and accountability. Over the past several years, I became increasingly concerned about the threat of overdevelopment, rising municipal spending and taxes, and the growing sense of division in town. I love Colts Neck. My family is rooted here, and I want future generations to experience the same rural charm and quality of life that brought so many of us here in the first place. I decided to run because I believe we need professional, business-minded leadership focused on transparency, listening to residents and restoring confidence in local government.
• Tom: As a business owner and operator, I’ve spent my career solving problems, managing budgets and making practical decisions. I decided to step forward because too many residents feel their concerns are no longer being heard. Everywhere we go, people talk about overdevelopment, rising taxes, excessive fees and frustration with the tone coming out of Town Hall. I believe Colts Neck deserves leadership that treats residents with respect and works collaboratively to solve problems. This campaign is really about getting Colts Neck back to the values that always defined our community — fiscal discipline, professionalism, transparency and protecting the rural character of our town.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

• Bob: I think what sets Tom and I apart is that we come from the private sector and approach government like taxpayers expect it to be approached — carefully, responsibly and with accountability. We are not career politicians. We understand budgets, operations and how to make organizations function efficiently. We’ve also been deeply involved in the community for years and understand what residents are worried about because we hear it directly every day. Just as importantly, we believe tone matters. Colts Neck residents deserve elected officials who listen respectfully, communicate professionally and invite citizens into the process instead of shutting them out.
• Tom: There’s also a very clear difference in fiscal philosophy in this race. Residents are frustrated by rising taxes and growing government reserves while families continue to struggle with affordability. Public records show our opponent, Kevin Walsh, voted multiple times to move millions of taxpayer dollars into school reserves that now exceed $12.5 million. If those funds were returned to taxpayers, the average home in Colts Neck could have seen their property taxes reduced by $1,700 on average. That’s very significant. Our children attended Colts Neck schools; we believe in a strong school system. But there is a big difference between a responsible reserve fund, and what Walsh voted for. And Walsh said during a radio interview that he’d like to have as much as $50 million in reserves. That’s just not smart thinking. It’s not right. Bob and I believe government should operate leanly, responsibly and transparently. Our focus is on taxpayers first, protecting Colts Neck from overdevelopment and restoring trust between residents and local government. Finally, our opponent has stated publicly that he wants to “dismantle” the Colts Neck Republican Committee, and after that, he said, he will “go after the county.” First of all, for a candidate who has run on a platform of community over politics, it’s this type of thinking that has contributed to the divisiveness in Colts Neck. People are sick of it, frankly. Secondly, we are committed to working with Monmouth County leadership. The county does so much for the town, in terms of shared services and countless support. It’s absolutely foolish and shortsighted to say you’re committed to head-to-head conflict with a county government that helps our Township in immeasurable ways.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?

• Bob: Professionally, I’ve spent my career in finance, where attention to budgets, planning and accountability are critical every day. Those skills directly translate to local government. Beyond my professional background, I’ve spent years involved in Colts Neck through volunteer service and community involvement. I understand the importance of balancing growth, preserving open space and maintaining the fiscal health of a town. Local government should be run with the same discipline and responsibility that families and businesses are forced to apply to their own budgets.
• Tom: As a business owner, I’ve had to make payroll, manage operations, deal with rising costs and make difficult decisions responsibly. That experience gives me a practical understanding of how government policies impact families and small businesses. I’ve also served the community through Township boards and committees, which has given me firsthand insight into local issues and how decisions are made. Bob and I are both focused on results, not politics. We want government to become more responsive, more transparent and more disciplined financially.

If elected, what will be your top priorities in your new role?

• Bob: Tom and I share the same priorities, which is why we decided to run together as a team. One top priority will be to ensure responsible fiscal discipline at Town Hall. Residents are deeply concerned about the pace of spending and tax increases. We need to carefully review operational spending, identify efficiencies and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly. I also want to improve transparency and communication so residents feel informed and involved in major decisions impacting the future of Colts Neck.
• Tom: As Bob said, we share the same priorities. Protecting the rural character of Colts Neck will absolutely be one of our top priorities. That means aggressively addressing overdevelopment concerns, prioritizing farmland and open space preservation and taking a far more thoughtful approach to affordable housing obligations. If the state is forcing Colts Neck to meet affordable housing mandates, we have to prioritize seniors, veterans and families with special needs and avoid high-density housing that only applies to 20% of the affordable housing requirements. We also want to restore professionalism and civility in local government. Residents deserve elected officials who treat people respectfully, even when there are disagreements. Bob and I are committed to creating a government that listens to citizens and welcomes public input.

Overdevelopment has been a large concern throughout the Colts Neck community. If elected, how will you address these concerns?

• Bob: Overdevelopment is probably the issue we hear most about from residents. People are extremely concerned about the scale and density of projects being proposed and approved in and around Colts Neck. If elected, we will never support additional high-density developments that threaten the character of our community. We also believe the Township must take a far more aggressive approach to farmland and open space preservation so that vulnerable properties are protected from future development pressure.
• Tom: The reality is that municipalities across New Jersey are facing tremendous pressure from state-mandated affordable housing requirements. We understand that challenge, but we strongly believe there are smarter ways to comply without fundamentally changing Colts Neck forever. Bob and I support prioritizing 100% affordable housing options for seniors, veterans and residents with special needs rather than large-scale, high-density developments that overwhelm infrastructure and alter the rural character of the community. We will fight to ensure Colts Neck maintains the “farm first” identity and open space that residents treasure. Last year, Colts Neck Republicans sent a clear, resounding message for a change in direction when they cast their votes for John Tobia, who was also endorsed by the Monmouth County and Colts Republican Parties, to serve on the Township Committee. Now, we ask for Republicans in Colts Neck to support us so we can continue the momentum for positive change.

Name one thing about Colts Neck that always makes you smile

• Bob: One place that always makes me smile is Delicious Orchards. To me, it captures the very soul of Colts Neck. Whether it’s the smell of fresh pies and cider donuts in the fall, families picking up produce on a Saturday morning, or seeing generations of residents crossing paths in the market, it reminds you that Colts Neck is still a true country town at heart. It’s more than a farm market — it’s part of our identity. Places like Delicious Orchards remind us why preserving the rural character of Colts Neck matters so much.
• Tom: For me, it’s driving past Eastmont Orchards early in the morning or around sunset. There’s something timeless about seeing the open fields, the orchards and the quiet beauty of that part of town. During apple-picking season, seeing families gathered among the apple trees, enjoying a simple day together, always makes me smile. Places like Eastmont are a big part of why I came to love this town so much. In a world where so many communities lose their character to overdevelopment, places like Eastmont Orchards remind us what makes Colts Neck special — and worth fighting to preserve.