Governor*
Phillip Murphy

Phil Murphy attended Harvard and earned a graduate degree at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He served as United States Ambassador to Germany from 2009 to 2013 and is a Monmouth County resident. Ambassador Murphy will fight to lower property taxes and end the cycle of wasted spending under the Administration of Governor Chris Christie.

NJ State Senator
Vin Gopal  

Vin Gopal is a successful small-business owner and entrepreneur. A life-long Monmouth County resident, Mr. Gopal previously served on the Board of Directors for the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce and for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Monmouth County. He served many years as a volunteer EMT here in Monmouth County and he will fight for the taxpayers of the 11th District. Mr. Gopal is a resident of Long Branch.

NJ State Assemblywoman
Joann Downey

Assemblywoman Joann Downey is a former Deputy State Attorney General who prosecuted cases of child abuse and neglect. She is currently an attorney in private practice. Joann received her undergraduate degree from Rutgers, her law degree from New York Law School, and holds a Master’s in social work from Boston University. As a member of the General Assembly, Joann is fighting to provide real property tax relief to residents. She serves on the Assembly Regulated Professions and Financial Institutions and Insurance committees. Joann resides in Freehold Township with her husband Stephen—a professor of history at Ocean County College—and their two daughters. Assemblywoman Downey’s legislative profile.  

NJ State Assemblyman
Eric Houghtaling

A lifelong resident and former Mayor of Neptune Township, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling has always strived to give back to the community in which he raised his family. Eric is a career electrician and a proud, 38-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 400. He has also served as a representative to the Monmouth and Ocean Counties Central Labor Council. Eric serves on the Assembly Labor, Telecommunications and Utilities, and Agriculture and Natural Resources committees. Eric and his wife Linda have three children—a son and two daughters—and seven grandchildren. Assemblyman Houghtaling’s legislative profile.

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Margie Donlon

Dr. Margaret Donlon is Board Certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She earned her bachelor degree from Middlebury College and a master degree in public health (MPH) from Yale University.  Dr. Dolon did her medical school training at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and completed an internship in internal medicine at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City. She subsequently pursued her residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark and at the Kessler Institute.  She received additional training in the practice of medical acupuncture at the Helms Institute. 

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Brian Wilton

Brian Wilton graduated The University of Scranton, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Political Science. He attended Seton Hall University School of Law and received his law degree in 2001.

Wilton is admitted to practice law in the United States District Court and Supreme Court of New Jersey. Since 2011, he has been honored every year as a Rising Star in New Jersey Super Lawyers and New Jersey Monthly magazines. He lives in Lake Como, Monmouth County with his wife and two daughters, and currently serves as the mayor of Lake Como and is the municipal prosecutor for the Borough of Freehold. In his spare time he enjoys surfing and competing in triathlons and marathons.

Shrewsbury Borough Council
Shane Berkelaar

He is Assistant Vice President and Small Business Relationship Manager for Santander Bank and has been working in banking/finance for 22 years. He studied business administration at Ocean County Community College. Causes include Habitat for Humanity and ACS Relay for Life. He is married to Jocelyn Berkelaar; they have two boys, Ryan 3 and Tyler 6.

Shrewsbury Borough Council
Dan Scaggs

Dan Scaggs, 41, is an insurance broker in Red Bank. Previously, he was a re-entry counselor at the Discovery Institute for Addictive Disorders in Marlboro. He has a degree from Brookdale Community College.
Scaggs is an active supporter of the local community and volunteers for school, civic and business organizations. He is a member of the Red Bank Rotary Club is a board member of the Monmouth County Referral Group. Scaggs was born in Staten Island, and was raised in Middletown, New Jersey. He and his wife, Rose-Louise have lived in Hudson Valley, NY and in London, before settling in Shrewsbury in 2012. They have two children, Amelia, 7, and Ben, 5, who both attend Shrewsbury Borough School.