OLD BRIDGE – Two slates of Democratic candidates in Old Bridge are vying for the three, four-year terms for Township Council-at-Large seats currently held by Republicans.
Election Day is Nov. 5. The primary will be held June 4.
Former longtime Councilman Dennis M. Maher, former Councilwoman June Dungee, and newcomer Raya Arbiol are running on the Middlesex County Democratic slate. Kim Castagne, Justin Meyer and Sam Ferraro are running on the Old Bridge Democrats for Good Government slate.
The three Democratic candidates who win the Primary election will face incumbents Anita Greenberg-Belli, Eleanor “Debbie” Walker, and Mary Rita Sohor in the November election.
Raya Arbiol, 35, who has lived in Old Bridge for 14 years, is seeking her first term on the council. The eldest of seven children, she said she helped raise her younger siblings after her mother passed away at a young age.
She has been a principal consultant with Raya Enterprises LLC since 2005 and is an outbound operations area manager for Amazon in Staten Island.
Arbiol earned a master’s degree in business administration and operations management from the University of Scranton, a master’s degree in information systems from Drexel University, earned top of the class in hospital corpsman training from the U.S. Naval Hospital Corps School in Illinois, a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Adamson University in Manila, Philippines, an associate’s degree in applied science major in health science from Middlesex County College, as well as a number of certificates.
In the community, Arbiol has been part of the Old Bridge Democratic Organization since 2017. She said she started formally getting involved in the political system after the 2016 presidential election. Prior, she had only been involved as a volunteer for Representative Rush Holt’s (D-Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Union) bid for U.S. Senate and as a summer fellow for Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president in 2016.
Throughout the years, she has volunteered in organizations in the northeast region including New York Cares, American Red Cross, United Services Organization and iMentor.
“I am running for office to bring new perspectives in Old Bridge,” she said. “I want to be the voice of compassion and inclusion. Old Bridge is an evolving diverse society and our township government should reflect that.”
If elected, Arbiol said she has four core concepts she would like to work on as a council member: reinvest in the township’s children and community services, incorporate strategic planning in all governmental endeavors, shift focus from overdevelopment to improving quality of life, and champion youth and young adult engagement and development.
June Dungee, who is an 11-year resident of Old Bridge, is seeking her first elected term on council. Dungee had previously served as Ward 3 councilwoman to fill the seat after the untimely death of Reggie Butler, the council’s longest serving member, in June 2016.
She is a widow and has two adult children. Dungee is retired after working many years in the private sector. She earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics with a concentration in consumer affairs from Montclair University. She also earned a software technology specialist certificate from Middlesex County College and a medical assistant certificate from Essex County College.
In the community, she has served as commissioner of the Old Bridge Housing Authority, is a member of the Old Bridge Cultural Arts Committee, is member of the Old Bridge Community Wellness Program and is a member of Old Bridge Silver Linings.
Dungee said representing Ward 3 was thoroughly enjoyable.
“My interest in running for council again as a council-at-large is to help unify and represent Old Bridge Township,” she said.
Dungee said, if elected, she pledges to reinvest in the community. She said she wants to work on attracting entrepreneurs, offering individual-based incentives to fill vacant stores and buildings, creating jobs; embrace and support diversity in all areas; encourage residents to voice their issues and concerns and to submit applications to serve on boards and committees; seniors should be charged based on actual water usage because most are living on a fixed income; work on providing senior after-hour transportation; and improve infrastructure in the township.
During her time on the council, Dungee said she worked on getting a youth center in her ward, which she said would also benefit other wards.
Dungee said, if elected, she will also focus on challenges seniors face away from the township Senior Center and when they are alone.
“Many are dealing with depression and loneliness, [and] social isolation from family and friends, due to lack of evening and weekend transportation, medical and financial obligations,” she said. “It is very real for seniors. I am also concerned about transitional senior housing and affordable housing for all residents.”
Dennis Maher, 67, who has lived in Old Bridge for 61 years, is seeking his fourth term on the council. He has four adult children and five grandchildren.
He previously served as councilman for 12 years from 1997 to 2007. During his time on the council he served as council president for four years.
He is a retired AT&T executive. He earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in business administration in finance from Seton Hall University.
In the community, Maher served as past trustee of the Most Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church, and formerly was active in various youth sports leagues – baseball, basketball, soccer and cheerleading – in various leadership roles when his children were growing up.
“I am running again for Township Council because the challenges we face in our schools, preserving open space, protecting the character of our community, creating vibrant business districts, expanding our commercial tax base, property taxes, and the environment affect the quality of life of every Old Bridge resident,” he said. “I have built a deep understanding of our community and the way things work. We have many issues that must be addressed now, and I can hit the ground running without a learning curve.”
Maher said his runningmates share the same concerns and have many ideas that would “save money, improve township services or otherwise benefit our community, but we have no authority to implement them.”
If re-elected, Maher said he would like to focus on preservation of open space with respect to the township’s master plan, which is critical to the future success of the community.
“All pending and future housing projections need to take a closer look on quality of life impacts to township schools, roadways, public safety and other emergency services,” he said.
Kim Castagne, Justin Meyer and Sam Ferraro, who are running on the Old Bridge Democrats for Good Government slate, did not respond by press time.
The Primary election is June 4. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
