A Political Year Ahead in Brick

The new year will bring its share of challenges as Brick continues to recover from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy.

But Brick residents will also be tasked with an additional important decision: the political leadership of the township.

First on the list will be the mayoral race.

Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis' term ends after 2013, meaning the mayoral election will be held this November.

Acropolis, through his term as mayor, has maintained an election fund account, as is common with most elected officials.

He – as well as anyone who wishes to challenge his potential candidacy – has until early April to delcare his intention to run in a partisan primary election. Independent candidates have until early June to file their nominating petitions to run for office.

There will also be three seats on the township council up for grabs this year. All of those seats are now occupied by Republicans.

Even if the GOP maintains their hold on those three seats, the council will remain the hands of the Democrats until 2015, however, since four Democrats were elected together in the 2011 election cycle.

The terms of council members Domenick Brando, Joseph Sangiovanni and Dan Toth all expire in 2013.

Council candidates follow the same dates as mayoral candidates for campaign filings.

In county politics, the terms of Republican Freeholders James F. Lacey, of Brick, and John P. Kelly, of Eagleswood, are up this year. Due to the death of Sheriff William Polhemus, there will be another sheriff's election this year, though an interim sheriff will be appointed by Gov. Chris Christie until then.