After many years, Lakewood is finally witnessing a competitive race in its District 30, which besides for Lakewood includes Howell, Wall, and several small towns. This year, both sides of the political spectrum have candidates with a legitimate chance of victory.
The towns included in the 30th District have long felt neglected by Trenton, enduring years of unfulfilled promises and advocacy. In Lakewood, Route 9 remains a single lane, causing daily traffic woes for thousands. The school funding issues affecting Lakewood has yet to find resolution, leaving the local public school children in need and the taxpayers saddled with massive debts and a lack of adequate services due to Trenton’s inaction.
In addition, private school children in New Jersey continue to receive fewer services compared to their peers in New York. Every year, community activists journey to Trenton, pleading for more funding for programs aimed at supporting yeshivos, only to return home disappointed. Howell’s school district has also faced severe funding cuts from Trenton in recent years.
Lakewood Alerts is committed to providing comprehensive coverage of this upcoming race before the election, and we are eager to introduce the candidates to you, the voters.
Sean Kean is a Republican candidate for State Assembly. Sean is a Wall Township resident, who has been serving as an assemblyman since 2002. In addition to his role in the political arena, Sean is an accomplished practicing attorney and holds a partnership at the law firm Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, and Jacobs. He also proudly fulfills the position of municipal attorney for Wall Township and is the legal representative for both the Lakewood Development Corporation (LDC) and the Lakewood Industrial Commission (LIC).
Ned Thomson is a Republican candidate for State Assembly. Ned is a Belmar resident, and has proudly served as the Assemblyman for the 30th District since 2017. Before assuming this role, he was deeply involved in local governance, dedicating a decade to the Wall Township Committee and being honored with the position of mayor twice. Additionally, prior to his tenure as Assemblyman, Ned played a key role as a Trustee of the New Jersey Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). In his professional life, Ned brings his expertise as an actuary to the team at E.H. Thomson and Company.
Bob Singer is a Republican candidate for State Senate. Bob, who lives in Seaside Heights, has been a prominent figure in Lakewood’s political arena for many years. Over the course of three decades, he contributed his leadership to the Lakewood Township Committee, holding multiple terms as mayor. Since 1999, he has maintained his role as an active member of the Lakewood Municipal Utilities Authority. Additionally, Bob serves as a valuable member of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council and plays a crucial role on the Ocean County Board of Health. With a remarkable political career, he has been a State Senator since 1993, and his service also includes two separate stints as an Assemblyman from 1986 to 1989 and then again from 1991 to 1993.
Sal Frascino is a Democratic Candidate for State Assembly. Sal, a proud Lakewood resident, brings a wealth of law enforcement experience to his campaign. Frascino’s journey in public service began as a police officer in Jersey City, where he served in the Special Patrol Bureau and later earned a promotion to Detective within the Narcotics Unit. His dedication to law enforcement led him to become a Task Force Officer with the DEA under the United States Department of Justice. In this role, Frascino actively engaged in undercover operations alongside Special Agents and U.S. Attorneys, working tirelessly to build cases against high-level individuals involved in narcotics-related offenses. Frascino currently holds the position of School Resource Officer.
Avi Schnall, A Lakewood resident, is a Democratic contender for the State Assembly. He may not have held prior elected positions, but he brings a wealth of legislative expertise to his campaign. Over the past nine years, Avi has diligently served as the Director of the Agudas Yisroel NJ office. Throughout his tenure, Avi has been a tireless advocate for state and local issues on behalf of the klal. Under Avi’s leadership, the Agudah office has undertaken numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing services for the tzibbur. With the guidance and hadracha of the Moetzes Gedolai Hatorah and the Roshei Yeshivos, Avi is now vying for a state office position.
Stephen Dobbins is the Democratic candidate for State Senate. Stephen, a dedicated Howell resident for many years, has recently entered the political arena. Having proudly graduated from Howell High School and holding degrees from both Brookdale Community College and Rutgers University, Stephen is the proprietor of Stormin’ Arts Productions, a social media marketing agency specializing in aiding small businesses. Leveraging his extensive background in working with these enterprises, he aspires to introduce innovative approaches to enhance the support for the essential backbone of our economy in the New Jersey Senate.