Most municipal and school board races in Allentown, Upper Freehold and Millstone will offer voters little competition in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election, with the Millstone Township Board of Education providing the major exception.
Allentown has two candidates for two Borough Council seats and one candidate for its seat on the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education.
Upper Freehold has one candidate for Township Committee and two candidates for two regional school board seats. Millstone has two candidates for two Township Committee seats.
The only race among the three communities with more candidates than available seats is the Millstone school board contest, where six candidates are seeking three positions.
The Messenger-Press received questionnaire responses from Allentown Borough Council candidates Erica DeKranes and John A. Elder III.
The other municipal and school board candidates could not be contacted as of press time. Additional candidate coverage and election updates will appear throughout the month on the Messenger-Press website at themessenger-press.com.
Allentown
DeKranes, a Democrat, and Elder, who is running as an independent under the “Working for Allentown” banner, are the only candidates seeking two full terms on the Borough Council. Both are incumbents.
DeKranes has served on the council since 2021 and was council president in 2024. She has lived in Allentown for nearly 10 years.
Professionally, DeKranes works in resource mobilization, including fundraising and grant management, for an international nonprofit. Her background includes philanthropy, international development, education and social justice. She has served on the board of Women in Development, New Jersey, and previously worked with organizations including Younity and the Coalition for Peace Action.
Elder has lived in Allentown since 1974 and is serving his ninth year on the Borough Council. He currently serves as council president.
His professional career included managing telephone centers with staffs ranging from 15 to more than 50 employees. His education focused on economics and personnel management.
Allentown voters also will elect a representative to the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education. Matthew Aurand is the only candidate seeking the seat and is running under the slogan “Encourage Empower Excel.”
The regional school district serves Allentown and Upper Freehold Township and operates Allentown High School, Stone Bridge Middle School and Newell Elementary School.
DeKranes and Elder responded to the Messenger-Press questionnaire about their experience and priorities. Elder submitted his responses in narrative form. His comments have been organized under the corresponding questions.
What qualifications and experience would you bring to the office you are seeking, and how would they help you serve the community?
DeKranes: My experience in fundraising and community organizing, dedication to community service, and educational background prepared me to serve on Allentown Borough Council. During my council tenure, I advocated for land preservation, including the Stein property, organized community events, and led several road, parking and public safety initiatives.
I have also prioritized relationship-building with local and state officials, as well as political and community-based networks. This experience, paired with an energetic and collaborative attitude, helps me to best serve Allentown residents.
Elder: Betty and I moved to Allentown with our very young daughter in October 1974. We found a welcoming community that cared. At the time, I commuted a long distance but found the benefits of Allentown far exceeded the long commute. My career in large part involved telephone center management of from 15 to over 50 employees. My education focused on economics and personnel management.
Allentown has given me the honor of serving on council now in my ninth year. Improving the quality of life of all residents is my primary goal. The mayor and council team work together to accomplish the many services and protections Allentown expects and deserves.
I bring work experience and education to help with council decisions. As council president and chair of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Water/Sewer and Buildings & Grounds committees, I keep involved with important employee, financial and quality-of-life issues.
What are the most important issues facing your municipality, and what specific actions would you pursue in this office to address them?
DeKranes: Rising costs of living, infrastructure maintenance and preservation of green space are key issues facing Allentown. These concerns are paired with a need to attract and accommodate new families and visitors to our community. Additionally, public safety continues to be an urgent priority for our council.
I plan to continue to work closely with borough professionals to pursue shared services and cost-effective maintenance of our public utilities. I will also support community events and park projects that appeal to families, such as Winter Wonderland and the updating of playground equipment.
I support holding annual emergency management preparation meetings and installing pedestrian crossing and safety signage. I will continue to advocate with the county and state to preserve green space, and I look forward to completing an EV charging project in the borough in collaboration with the Environmental Commission.
Elder: Public safety is the first responsibility of all elected officials. We work closely with Allentown Police and Monmouth County. Allentown, being the center of major traffic intersections, requires traffic safety enforcement while keeping a watchful eye out to prevent crime.
Currently, we are working with the county commissioners to provide pedestrian-activated crosswalk signals at several heavy-traffic areas. Speed limit reductions to 25 mph on all county roads — Main, Waker and Yardville-Allentown — are being explored. High and Church are now 25 mph, as are all borough roads.
The preservation of the Stein property that borders Allentown at Probasco Drive is an accomplishment that will preserve the quality of life and history in Allentown into the next century. Working with the county commissioners, leadership by Mayor Fritts and active support by council saved Allentown from the out-of-control sprawl of New Jersey warehouses.
The new sewer plant provides reliable waste processing that complies with New Jersey’s strict environmental and health requirements. This was very much needed.
Currently, the water plant is undergoing major needed work to ensure continued clean drinking water for years to come.
Allentown continually looks for grant opportunities from state, county and nonprofit groups. We are currently exploring a Safe Streets to Schools grant opportunity that will help provide safer walking conditions for students going to the main school campus on High Street.
How would you limit municipal property tax increases as costs rise, and what spending changes or cost-saving measures would you support while maintaining essential services?
DeKranes: I support pursuing shared services with the county and neighboring towns where possible. I also work closely with borough professionals to explore cost-saving options for borough services, such as utilities, and to find grants to offset costs.
As a council, we need to reexamine health care options going into the 2027 fiscal year, given the rise of health care costs across New Jersey.
Elder: Elected officials take seriously the significant cost of providing services to all residents. Every year, we review the budget in order to continue the best service possible. We do not want residents to pay more and get less.
Financing through the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank provides for 50% loan forgiveness when staggered over several years, therefore saving tax dollars.
Having said that, much is accomplished with only 12 full-time employees — three at Borough Hall, three in the Department of Public Works and six police officers providing 24-hour coverage — and a part-time chief financial officer.
How would you involve residents in municipal decisions and keep them informed about spending, major projects and progress on your priorities?
DeKranes: Allentown’s commissions are essential to our community. I would like to see continued collaboration between commissions, facilitated by council leadership. I would also like to actively recruit new commission members.
Our borough administrator does a great job of compiling and sending our borough newsletter and Everbridge alerts. I am always available to speak to residents in person, over the phone or through email, and I make sure to follow up on all questions and concerns.
Elder: I look to Allentown residents for feedback and ask, how are we doing? You may have seen me driving around town in my red pickup truck. I check on projects and conditions frequently.
I encourage residents to get involved in the community, volunteer for borough committees, come to council meetings and send me an email with a concern.
Upper Freehold
Upper Freehold voters will see no contested municipal or school board races.
Republican Michael R. McGuire is the only candidate seeking one full term on the Township Committee. No Democratic candidate is on the ballot.
McGuire is seeking his first term on the governing body.
Two candidates are seeking two Upper Freehold seats on the Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education. Anna Arcaro and Lauren Madden are the only candidates. Madden is running under the slogan “Students First.”
Arcaro is an incumbent member of the regional school board, while Madden is seeking a seat on the board.
The regional district has nine elected board members representing Allentown and Upper Freehold Township. A representative of the Millstone Township school board also serves on the regional board because Millstone students attend Allentown High School.
Millstone
Millstone Township also has no contested municipal race.
Republicans Daniel Murphy and Chris Morris are the only candidates seeking two full terms on the five-member Township Committee. No Democratic candidates were nominated.
Morris is an incumbent and currently serves as Millstone’s deputy mayor. His current Township Committee term expires at the end of the year.
Murphy is seeking his first term on the committee. He and Morris won the two Republican nominations in the June primary.
The Millstone Township Board of Education race is the only contested local race among the three communities.
Six candidates are seeking three full terms on the school board.
Kristen Ondy, Erin Bergonzoni and Caitlin Fastiggi are running under the “Vote For Change” slogan.
Karina Ramos, Ronald A. Carr and Maria Sienkiewicz are running under the “Common Sense Results” slogan.
Voters may select up to three candidates.
The Millstone Township school district serves students from prekindergarten through eighth grade. Millstone students then attend Allentown High School in the Upper Freehold Regional School District.
Polls will be open for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
