Democrat Jeremy Seideman On Why He's Running Again For Middletown Township Committee

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — There will be an election Nov. 3 for Middletown Township Committee.

There are two seats up for election on the Township Committee, and two Republicans and two Democrats are running. The two Democrats running for the seats are Shawn Wallach and Jeremy Seideman.

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In this article, Seideman re-introduces himself to Middletown voters: (here is his running mate Wallach's profile from Oct. 9)

Your name, age and office you are running for.

I am Jeremy Seideman, I am 47 years old and I am running for Township Committee in Middletown.

What is your occupation?

I am a technology executive in the financial services industry, and I am a research scientist in computer science. My work has involved designing data systems for multiple industries, including digital publishing and finance. My research has been in the fields of computer security and AI/machine learning.

How long have you lived in Middletown and what part of town do you live in?

I have lived in Middletown for three years, and I live in the Fair View neighborhood. I quickly learned what our town has to offer, but also saw where it was lacking. Knowing that I intended to stay here for a very long time, I knew right away that I wanted to be active in the community, and help make Middletown the best it could be for all residents. I saw how many residents felt that things were not going to change for the better, and I felt that was unacceptable. We have a great town, and the improvements that Shawn and I hope to bring are necessary to keep it that way.

Have you ever run for elected office before? Please list all races and their outcomes, and how long you held that elected office.

This is my second campaign for an elected public office, as I ran for Township Committee last year. However, I was elected to several leadership positions on various student and joint faculty-student committees in university, as well as leadership positions in charitable and non-profit organizations.

What are your specific accomplishments and skills that would make you a good Township Committee representative?

My work, professionally and academically, has led to me making data-driven decisions. Taking into account multiple observations, viewpoints, and source of information helps ensure that a decision is justifiable and is more likely to serve the people of the Township.

I have a track record of innovation, and have been seen as a prolific inventor in my professional life. This means that I am known to look "outside the box" to try to find solutions that can solve many issues, often in ways that differ from the existing methods.

Working as an engineer and a systems designer has equipped me with problem-solving skills, and an ability to look for ways to make all of the pieces fit together as part of a larger whole. This will help "connect the dots" across all of the departments and services within the Middletown government.

My work in charity and non-profits has helped me learn to see the often hidden ways that people are struggling. Because of this, I also know how to connect with them in order to provide better paths to resolution with their situations.

Please give some examples of how you think the current Middletown Township. Committee has failed the public, or not represented them well.

Tax increases remain a major issue that people face in Middletown, and many are unsure of whether the additional taxes they are paying bring any additional benefit. The use of the tax dollars is not apparent to many people that live here, and this is a key issue that I want to change — the committee is accountable to the residents of Middletown, and that means that spending needs to not only be done responsibly, but everyone who wants to should be able to find out not only what was spent, but why.

A more transparent government empowers the residents, who can then demand the committee advocate for their needs, not for broad partisan policy.

The Township infrastructure still needs improvement. There are neighborhoods where entire streets are pockmarked with potholes, sidewalks are overgrown and crumbling and parks are poorly maintained. The township's progress on infrastructure does not convince people to care about new buildings or improved parks in other parts of the township when their own local buildings, roads and parks are in a state of disrepair. People deserve answers as to why their own roads are unsafe, but the town can buy up land to transform into green spaces.

Then, there is the topic of housing and development. The Township has been involved in multiple lawsuits over how to satisfy their obligations to provide housing, and to make sure that housing is affordable and attainable. The Township has certain constitutional obligations that, if not fulfilled, require the courts to step in. Instead of working to resolve their compliance issues, the Township has decided to pursue legal action. The money that is being spent on these challenges could better be used to support our own programs and events.

As a result, zoning decisions are made without taking the Township's own community needs into account, and instead are decided by outsiders with different goals. Combine this with questionable development decisions, such as the proposed LED billboards on Rt. 36, that do not materially benefit the community in a way that is obvious to residents, and you have another issue that many of the people we have spoken to have raised as a concern. Development must meet community needs, to both preserve the character of the Township while also making it possible for the Township to grow.

Finally, there is a general lack of representation among the committee for the people that live in Middletown. Based on voter registration statistics, their views and agenda do not align with the majority of the people who live in Middletown.

In other words, the voice of large parts of this town is silenced, because in a situation where a single party — any single party — maintains control over a committee for an extended period of time, progress slows in the big picture. Sure, the people who align with the committee's views see things working in their favor, but overall, the people are not adequately represented. Changing the makeup of the committee will ensure that everyone gets a seat at the table, and representatives that will look out for the needs of all Middletown residents.

(From Patch: The Middletown Township Committee has been all Republican for the past 15 years.)

Why should voters vote for you instead?

The current makeup of the committee is a group of representatives from a single party, meaning they are united under a single unified agenda. As a result, all decisions are made along those same party lines. In other words, you do not see the kind of debate and discussion that are key parts of the democratic process. The overall decisions adhere to that agenda, and may or may not take into account the voice of Middletown residents, many of whom do not necessarily align with that agenda.

Voters should vote for me because my goal, especially working with Shawn Wallach, is to bring transparency and accountability back to the Committee. Shawn is a long-time resident, and I am a newer resident. This means that as a team, we will be able to look at each issue through that dual lens – how and why it has been this way, and new ways it can be resolved. Bringing my fresh perspective tempered by Shawn's long tenure in the town will lead many positive changes for the town.

The people we have spoken with feel they are not well-represented, so we want to make sure that everyone has a seat at the table. We want to ask the hard questions, drive the debate, and make sure that we can justify decisions that the committee makes, especially as they relate to people's tax dollars and development plans. We want to advocate for everyone in the community. Decisions should be made using all available data and should be made for the benefit of the community, not rubber stamped because they align with the agenda of any one group. The committee is meant to work for the people of Middletown.

What's your favorite part about living in Middletown?

I am not originally from Middletown — I am originally from New York City. When my partner and I wanted a better life, we looked at towns that were between our work locations — my office (in Manhattan) and her university (in Ocean County). We very quickly zeroed in on Middletown because it is a safe, family-oriented community that is a great place to live and raise a family, and nearly every house we viewed was in Middletown.

We were impressed with the local culture, the proximity to multiple metropolitan areas and the way the town maintains a "small town" vibe while still being part of the larger NYC metropolitan area. The expansive green spaces are inviting for outdoor activities, and the proximity to beaches — especially free beaches — provide a great experience during the summer.

The two Republicans running for the seats are longtime Middletown Committeeman Ryan Clarke, running for re-election, and Republican operative Morganne Dudzinski. Patch will publish their profiles later this week.

Democrat Shawn Wallach Re-Introduces Himself To Middletown Voters (Oct. 9)

Meet the two candidates, from the Middletown Democratic Party: Your Middletown.com/Our candidates

Election Day is Nov. 3. Early, in-person voting runs Oct. 24 - Nov. 1; early voting can be done in Middletown at Croydon Hall, 900 Leonardville Road, Leonardo, NJ 07737. The state will mail ballots out to homes very soon.