Lakewood Township will hold its annual reorganization meeting this Friday morning, with the Township Committee scheduled to vote on a new mayor. Barring any last-minute changes, Ray Coles is expected to be reappointed to the post.
Coles, first elected as a committeeman in 2001, has previously served as mayor in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008, and every year from 2017 through 2025. His reappointment for 2026 continues his long-standing leadership, despite the township’s supposed policy of rotating the mayoral position among council members.
Once again, the swearing-in ceremony will be conducted entirely online via Zoom — a practice that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since become the norm. The virtual-only format replaces what was once a formal, in-person public ceremony at Town Hall, typically attended by residents, community leaders, and local officials.
The continued reliance on remote ceremonies has drawn criticism from residents who say it undercuts transparency and civic engagement, particularly in a township that routinely highlights its growing stature and regional importance. For a municipality that insists it deserves to be treated like a major New Jersey city, critics say the persistence of scaled-down, online governance sends the opposite message.
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