Two-term Monmouth County Commissioner Ross Licitra will not seek re-election this year, opening the door for Middletown Mayor Tony Perry to run for countywide office.
As the mayor of the county’s largest municipality, Perry would likely emerge as the frontrunner in the race to succeed Licitra.
Last year, Perry was a finalist in the process to pick a Republican nominee for lieutenant governor to run with Jack Ciattarelli. An executive at Hackensack Meridian Health and a former chief of staff to State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown), Perry has been a township committeeman since 2017 and the mayor since 2019; he is the longest-serving mayor in nearly a century.
Other possible candidates include Millstone Mayor Al Ferro, Little Silver Councilman Christopher Faherty, and former Marlboro Councilman Juned Qazi.
A former narcotics detective who now runs the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Monmouth County branch, Licitra was elected in 2020 after Patrick Impreveduto decided to call it quits after a single three-year term on the freeholder board.
Erik Anderson is seeking a second term. He was elected in 2023 after longtime Commissioner Lillian Burry retired.
Democrats have not won a countywide race in Monmouth County since John D’Amico was elected freeholder in 2008.
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