Freehold Borough Council Election 2025: Adam Reich

FREEHOLD BOROUGH, NJ — Incumbent Adam Reich is running for re-election to the Freehold Borough Council in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

In November, Reich (D) will run for one of two open seats on the council alongside running mate and incumbent Margaret Rogers (D). The two will face off against challengers Autumn Nonnenmacher (R) and Richard “Ricky” Gartz (R).

Ahead of the General Election, Patch posed several questions to Reich about his campaign platform, experience, and what sets him apart from other candidates. His replies are below.

Editor’s Note: The following article contains information about one of the candidates running for the Freehold Borough Council in 2025. Responses are written as received by Patch.

Patch has contacted all other candidates in this race with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

Are you running for the Freehold Borough Council? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Adam Reich

Age: 45
Town of Residence: Freehold Borough
Education: Bachelor of Architecture; Syracuse University
Occupation: Project Architect

What drove you to seek public office?
My motivation to seek re-election is fundamentally driven by a lifelong dedication to the Borough and a strong family legacy of service.

As a third-generation resident, I have deep ties to this community, and my family has a history of dedicated service and volunteerism to our wonderful town. I enjoy actively working with our residents and businesses to ensure Freehold Borough continues to be a shining star on the map of New Jersey!

One of the reasons I am running for re-election is that we are in the process of fantastic new redevelopment opportunities for our community, and I want to ensure that the progress made thus far continues with the guidance and vision that our residents have for our town. I also want to make certain that the redevelopment in our Borough is sensitive to our robust history, conservative enough to fit within our townscape, and beneficial to our residents, commuters, and businesses in and around the downtown area.

Additionally, I am driven by the belief that active community participation benefits everyone. My consistent goal has been to show our residents the profound value of being an active community member, as it benefits not only the individual but also everyone around you. I initially sought office to lead that charge by example and help the Borough take full advantage of all that our great town has to offer, and it is my desire to continue that charge into my next term.

Underlining and emphasizing my motivation, Freehold Borough is my hometown, and I love living here, working here, and being a member of the governing body, helping our residents every day.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?
What truly sets me apart is the depth of my lived experience and practical involvement right here in the Borough. I’m not just a resident who decided to run; I’m a born and raised member of this community who has dedicated years to hands-on volunteering across numerous committees, commissions, and organizations.

This history has given me a crucial advantage: an intimate, working understanding of our Borough’s unique needs, gained from working directly with so many of my community neighbors to improve our shared quality of life. I chose to get involved, and those real-world experiences are what shape my approach as a member of the governing body.

Furthermore, my two terms on the council have reinforced the vital importance of leadership rooted in humility and listening. I deeply appreciate the diverse opinions and insight our residents offer, and I am always willing to step back and hear a point of view before making a decision.

I understand I don’t always have the answers, and being open to that feedback enables me to be better informed and more knowledgeable about how my choices — in both the short and long run — affect our entire community.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?
My qualifications for this position are rooted in a comprehensive and diverse history of service to the Freehold Borough community, spanning numerous official and civic capacities.

Local Service
My experience includes elected and appointed roles that provide a 360-degree understanding of municipal operations. Specifically, I have served as an elected member of the Freehold Borough Board of Education. Beyond that, my civic engagement includes:

• Former member and Chairperson of the Freehold Borough Planning and Zoning Board.
• Former member and current Council Liaison to the Historic Preservation Advisory Commission.
• Former member of the Freehold Borough Educational Foundation.
• Former member of the Freehold Borough Visioning Committee, Freehold Beautiful, Inc., and the Freehold Recreation Commission.

Governing Body Expertise
While serving on the Council, I have been actively involved in critical functional areas of governance. My liaison and committee assignments have included:

• Financial Committee (Member)
• Redevelopment Committee (Member)
• Personnel Committee (Member)
• Green Team (Member)
• Human Relations Advisory Committee (Liaison and member)
• Memorial Day Parade Committee (Liaison)

Professional Foundation
All of these committees and commissions have collectively provided a well-rounded and essential knowledge of the many varied requirements of a Council person. This hands-on municipal experience is further bolstered by my professional expertise in the field of architecture. This background has trained me to approach complex problems creatively and strategically, ensuring that my leadership is built upon a solid foundation of professional, personal, and council experiences. This unique blend drives my commitment to serve as a capable and dedicated leader in our community.

If elected, what will be your top priorities in your new role?
If re-elected, my commitment will be to focus on three critical areas that will ensure our community remains both sustainable and vibrant.

My top priorities are: Fostering broad civic engagement, ensuring fiscal stability against rising costs, and championing smart, historically-conscious development.

• 1.) Strengthening Civic Involvement
  • While we are fortunate to have a dedicated core group of volunteers, our governing body is strongest when it is representative of our entire community. My priority will be to launch initiatives designed to broaden participation, ensuring we hear from more people and different walks of life. We must make civic duty accessible and appealing to every resident, ensuring our decisions are informed by a diversity of perspectives.
• 2.) Combating Rising Taxes and Cost of Living
  • This is an ever-present and major issue for our residents. We are tackling the high cost of living on two key fronts: First, by continuing with our major grant writing campaign that helps us secure millions of dollars in external funding annually, which reduces the burden on local taxpayers. Second, we will maintain an absolute commitment to rigorous budget oversight, working closely with our finance committee and department to keep a careful watch on every dollar spent.
• 3.) Ensuring Smart, Sustainable Development
  • Growth must be handled with care. We will continue to take a careful approach to smart development that honors our history while keeping us prevalent and moving forward into the future. This involves a strategic combination of creative funding solutions, informed space planning and design, and working closely with developers throughout the entire process to guarantee positive, lasting results for our town.

Name one thing about Freehold Borough that always makes you smile.
The one thing about Freehold Borough that consistently makes me smile is the sheer, vibrant energy of our community events and the inclusive spirit they foster.

It’s truly impressive how much is always going on — from concerts and parades to festivals and movie nights, there seems to be something exciting happening every day. Downtown Freehold does a fantastic job making that schedule happen.

But what makes me smile the most is not just the events themselves, but what they represent: the opportunity to spend time with friends and family, and more importantly, the chance to celebrate the diverse communities and peoples who contribute to making Freehold Borough a truly unique and special place. That sense of constant, shared, and welcoming excitement is absolutely infectious.