FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – Two Republicans and two Democrats are seeking a pair of three-year terms on the Township Committee in Freehold Township this year. Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 6.
Democrats Jenan Agnihotri and Jennie Jeanette Mistretta are seeking the seats that are currently held by Republicans Anthony Ammiano and Thomas Cook. Ammiano and Cook are seeking re-election. Agnihotri and Mistretta are profiled in a separate article.
Ammiano, who is serving as mayor this year, joined the committee in 2001. For 33 years, he has worked as the Chief Financial Officer/treasurer for Del-Sano Contracting Corporation, Union. He is also a board member of the Broadway House for Continuing Care, which provides post-acute care for men and women infected by the AIDS virus.
In addition to serving on the township’s Finance Committee, Ammiano has been a member of the Board of Health, the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners, the Environmental Commission, the Planning Board and the Transportation Board during his time on the Township Committee.
“I am seeking re-election to continue the great work we have done as a governing body over my tenure in Freehold Township,” he said. “On the Finance Committee, discussing the challenges of providing our current array of services, while stabilizing the rising cost of these services, is greatly important to the township and taxpayers’ bottom line.
“As a member of the Board of Heath, the township has begun the first year of our largest shared services agreement ever by serving Wall Township as their health department,” he said. “This will give both municipalities more tools and better flexibility in tackling and responding to public health issues.
“In my duties as parks and recreation liaison, we are building upon our commitment to include children of all abilities to use our parks and playgrounds. We are planning another playground to accommodate children of all abilities in Opatut Park and hoping to get a 2019 Monmouth County open space grant for that endeavor.”
Ammiano said he will continue to address the issues of affordable housing and Freehold Township’s infrastructure if re-elected.
“The affordable housing issue will require a comprehensive effort to ultimately determine our responsibility and then formulate a plan that makes sense to meet our affordable housing requirements,” he said. “Maintaining our infrastructure and finding a responsible way to pay for it over the short and long term is another primary focus.”
Cook, who is serving as deputy mayor this year, joined the committee in 2013. Prior to serving on the governing body, he had been a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission and a board member of the Freehold Soccer League.
“I am seeking re-election because I have a passion for serving the residents of Freehold Township and trying to maintain our family town,” Cook said. “Freehold Township has beautiful parks and recreational facilities, neighborhoods and great schools that are enjoyed by our residents.”
Professionally, Cook has held a career in operations management and after spending 12 years in the aerospace field, is currently the reprographics director for an international law firm in New York City.
“I have worked in operations management for more than 30 years dealing with budgets, people and processes in diverse businesses,” he said.
If re-elected to another term, Cook said, “The important issues facing Freehold Township are affordable housing and the affect it will have on 50 years of zoning strategy, the continuing growing threat of heroin and opioid drug abuse in our community, and the growing cost of providing municipal services vs. the weight of property taxes on our residents.”
