Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026
Newton Town Council Election 2026
3 of 5 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 · 12 days left
General election (Nov 3): 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.
Town Council
Vote for up to 3- Matthew DicksonIncumbentCertified paramedic and Newton Town Council member who was first elected to the council in 2018. He has served on the Newton Planning Board and as liaison to the Newton Board of Education.8sourced
- Sandra Lee DiglioIncumbentNewton Town Council member first elected in 2010 and a Newton First Aid Squad emergency medical responder. She has been the council liaison to the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission and served on the Planning Board.9sourced
- Helen R. Le FroisIncumbentFormer Newton mayor who helps lead an organization serving victims of domestic violence and abuse. She has chaired the Newton Historic Preservation Advisory Commission and the Parking Authority.10sourced
- Ludmilla MecajUniversity instructor who teaches anatomy and physiology and has lived in Newton since 1995. She was vice chair of the Newton Recreation Committee for four years.8sourced
Voters choose up to three of four candidates for three at-large Town Council seats with four-year terms; two other council members are 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.
- John-Paul E. CouceCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20286sourced
- Michelle J. TeetsCouncilmember; term expires December 31, 20286sourced
Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.
What the next council decides
01Budget and property taxes3 sourced facts
Where it standsThe council adopted the amended 2026 municipal and water and sewer budget on May 11, 2026, by a 3-1 vote.
What's on the tableThe next council will write and adopt the 2027 budget and the amount raised by local property taxes.
- The 2026 budget as introduced authorized general appropriations of $17,080,346, with $11,324,246 to be raised by taxes for municipal purposes. Town of Newton · Mar 23, 2026
- The state required Newton to raise the full remaining $460,000 of 2024 earthquake repair costs at its water and sewer plant in the 2026 budget. Town of Newton · Apr 27, 2026
- Councilmember Couce voted no on adopting the budget; Councilmember Teets was excused. Town of Newton · May 11, 2026
02Affordable housing3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn March 2026 the council adopted three zoning and redevelopment plan changes for its Fourth Round (2025-2035) affordable-housing plan, overriding the Land Use Board's finding that they conflict with the Master Plan.
What's on the tableThe next council will act on redevelopment agreements and projects in the rezoned areas.
- A Superior Court consent order entered on December 9, 2025 granted Newton conditional compliance certification for its Fourth Round affordable-housing obligations. Town of Newton · Mar 9, 2026
- The Land Use Board found the ordinances inconsistent with the Master Plan, citing density increases and the burden on water and sewer infrastructure. Town of Newton · Mar 9, 2026
- Ordinance 2026-6, for the Paterson Avenue Redevelopment Plan, passed 4-1, with Deputy Mayor Diglio voting no. Town of Newton · Mar 9, 2026
03Redevelopment and tax deals3 sourced facts
Where it standsIn December 2025 the council approved a long-term tax exemption financial agreement for a supermarket project at 125 Water Street under the ShopRite Redevelopment Plan.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide on further redevelopment agreements and whether to offer payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deals.
- Phase 1 of the Water Street project is a supermarket of about 80,000 square feet. Town of Newton · Dec 15, 2025
- Ordinance 2025-21 approving the financial agreement passed 5-0. Town of Newton · Dec 15, 2025
- In March 2026 the council passed a resolution supporting Newton's application to become a New Jersey Urban Enterprise Zone. Town of Newton · Mar 23, 2026
04Water and sewer infrastructure2 sourced facts
Where it standsIn March 2026 the council authorized $3,000,000 in bonds for water meter replacements and another $3,000,000 for water main replacements.
What's on the tableThe next council will set water and sewer budgets and decide on further borrowing for the system.
- The 2026 water and sewer utility budget has appropriations of $6,200,450. Town of Newton · Mar 23, 2026
- Of the $3,000,000 for water meters, $2,000,000 comes from H2O loans, and the utility will absorb $250,000, the CFO said. Town of Newton · Mar 23, 2026
05Homelessness1 sourced fact
Where it standsNewton runs a Homelessness Task Force and pays a consultant to coordinate it through December 31, 2026.
What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to keep funding the task force coordinator after 2026.
- In November 2025 the council approved a contract of up to $48,800 with Team Twenty-Three LLC for task force coordinator services from November 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026. Town of Newton · Nov 10, 2025
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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 Newton allow denser housing in redevelopment areas to meet its affordable-housing obligation?
2. Should Newton offer long-term tax agreements (PILOTs) to attract redevelopment?
3. How should Newton pay to replace aging water mains and meters?
4. Should Newton keep paying for a Homelessness Task Force coordinator?
Key dates
- Voter registration deadlineTown of Newton · Aug 31, 2026Oct 13, 2026
- General electionTown of Newton · Aug 31, 2026Nov 3, 2026
The seat math
2 stay (not up this year): John-Paul E. Couce, Michelle J. Teets3 on this ballot
5 council seats. The council decides by a 3-vote majority.
- The Town Council has five members. Town of Newton
- The Sussex County official candidate list shows four nonpartisan candidates for three Newton Town Council seats. Sussex County · Sep 4, 2026
- Three Town Council seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot, each for a four-year term. Town of Newton · Aug 31, 2026
- Council members John-Paul E. Couce and Michelle J. Teets have terms that expire December 31, 2028. Town of Newton
- The Town Manager carries out the town's administration and serves at the pleasure of the Council. Town of Newton
- The council chose Matthew Dickson as mayor and Sandra Lee Diglio as deputy mayor for 2026 at its January 15, 2026 reorganization meeting. Town of Newton · Jan 15, 2026
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