Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Matawan Borough Council Election 2026
2 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 4 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check
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How to vote · 11 days left
Early voting begins (Oct 24): the election office's noticeThese links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.
The candidates
Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.
Borough Council
Vote for up to 2- Arlan J. FeilesIncumbentBorough Council member; chairs the Recreation, Recycling & Sanitation committee in 20264sourced
- Mark T. GabrielFamily law attorney.1sourced
- James J. McCueCaptain with FDNY EMS and a 14-year Matawan resident. He is a member of the Matawan Recreation Commission and a volunteer with Parents of Special People.3sourced
- Raymond StuetzCulinary innovation specialist.1sourced
Voters choose two Borough Council members for full terms in the Nov. 3 partisan general election; the mayor is not on the ballot.
Also on your Nov 3 ballot
We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.
- U.S. Senate
- Cory Booker · Democratic
- Justin Murphy · Republican
- Veronica Fernandez · End the Corruption!
- Joanne Kuniansky · Socialist Workers Party
Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.
Already on the council, not on the ballot
Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.
- Joseph AltomonteMayor of Matawan1sourced
- Dan DeZaioBorough Council member; chairs the DPW, Shade Tree and Fire committee in 2026bio only
- Suzanne ReynoldsBorough Council member; chairs the Animal Welfare Advisory, Property Maintenance and ADA committee in 2026bio only
- Charles RossBorough Council member; chairs the Finance, Construction and Environmental committee in 2026bio only
- Megan TaraszkiewiczBorough Council member; chairs the Historical Sites and Personnel committee in 2026bio only
What the next council decides
01Budget and property taxes4 sourced facts
Where it standsMatawan's 2026 municipal budget totals $17,202,930, and the average residential municipal tax rises by $264.33 to $3,807.86.
What's on the tableThe next council will write and adopt the 2027 municipal budget and set the local tax levy.
- The 2026 budget presentation lists total appropriations of $17,202,931, up $1,341,006 from 2025. Borough of Matawan
- The borough's health insurance costs rose by $593,020, an increase of about 14%. Borough of Matawan
- A new 2% local tax on retail cannabis sales is listed as a new revenue source. Borough of Matawan
- The budget uses $2,000,000 of surplus, up from $1,600,000 in 2025. Borough of Matawan
02Trash and recycling contract3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe borough rejected the only bid it received for trash and recycling collection in January 2026; its budget says the new contract costs $195,000 more.
What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the trash and recycling contract and decide how to pay for it.
- Resolution 26-01-56 rejected all bids for trash and recycling collection because the lowest bid substantially exceeded the cost estimates. Borough of Matawan special meeting agenda and Resolution 26-01-56, Jan. 23, 2026 · Jan 23, 2026
- The Feb. 3, 2026 agenda listed an emergency contract with Recycle Track Systems NJ, LLC for solid waste and recycling collection. Borough of Matawan council agenda (revised), Feb. 3, 2026 · Feb 3, 2026
- The 2026 budget presentation says the new waste and recycling contract resulted in an increase of $195,000. Borough of Matawan
03Affordable housing obligations2 sourced facts
Where it standsIn February 2026 the council's agenda included a settlement on the borough's past affordable housing obligations and a consent order on its Fourth Round obligations.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide how the borough meets its Fourth Round affordable housing obligations.
- Resolution 26-02-07, listed on the Feb. 3, 2026 agenda, was to approve a settlement on the borough's Prior Round and Third Round affordable housing obligations. Borough of Matawan council agenda (revised), Feb. 3, 2026 · Feb 3, 2026
- The same resolution was also to approve a consent order concerning the borough's Fourth Round affordable housing obligations. Borough of Matawan council agenda (revised), Feb. 3, 2026 · Feb 3, 2026
04Property purchases2 sourced facts
Where it standsIn early 2026 the council's agendas listed ordinances to buy properties by negotiation.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide how to use the properties the borough buys.
- The Jan. 20, 2026 agenda listed Ordinances 26-04 and 26-05, authorizing the purchase by negotiation of Block 25, Lot 6 and Block 28, Lot 5. Borough of Matawan council agenda, Jan. 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026
- The April 21, 2026 agenda listed an ordinance to acquire part of Block 29, Lot 57 by negotiation. Borough of Matawan council agenda (revised), April 21, 2026 · Apr 21, 2026
05Terhune Park2 sourced facts
Where it standsA $775,000 bond ordinance for Terhune Park improvements, including grant funds, was on the council's January 2026 agenda.
What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the Terhune Park project and other park spending.
- Ordinance 26-03 appropriates $775,000 for Terhune Park improvements, including $180,908 in expected grant funds. Borough of Matawan council agenda, Jan. 20, 2026 · Jan 20, 2026
- The county open space grant of $180,908 is for ADA pathways, a modern playground, fitness areas and other amenities at Terhune Park. Borough of Matawan
06Yearly reassessments2 sourced facts
Where it standsThe Feiles and McCue campaign says the county's Assessment Demonstration Program adjusts Matawan assessments every year and that it has taken first steps to leave it.
What's on the tableThe next council may decide whether to keep pursuing withdrawal from the program.
- The Feiles and McCue campaign site says the county's Assessment Demonstration Program adjusts assessments on Matawan taxpayers every year. Restore Matawan (Feiles and McCue campaign site)
- The 2026 budget presentation shows the average residential assessed value rising from $554,689.19 to $593,630.59. Borough of Matawan
1 note on these statements
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO lists James J. McCue among its 2026 endorsed candidates for Matawan Council. New Jersey State AFL-CIO
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Who matches you?
Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.
1. Should the borough buy downtown properties for parking and public space?
2. Should Matawan renovate Terhune Park?
3. Should Matawan leave the county's yearly reassessment program?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineMonmouth County 2026 General Election timelineOct 13, 2026
- Early voting beginsMonmouth County 2026 General Election timelineOct 24, 2026
- Election DayMonmouth County Clerk · Sep 1, 2026Nov 3, 2026
The seat math
5 stay (not up this year): Joseph Altomonte, Dan DeZaio, Suzanne Reynolds, Charles Ross, Megan Taraszkiewicz2 on this ballot
6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.
- The county's official list shows Matawan Borough voting for two full-term Borough Council seats (vote for two). Monmouth County Clerk · Sep 1, 2026
- The Borough Council has six members and is led by Council President Deana Gunn; Joseph Altomonte is mayor. Borough of Matawan
- Council committee assignments are for one year, and the first member listed on each committee serves as its chair. Borough of Matawan
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