By DON STINE
Ocean Township Deputy Mayor Robert Acerra has thrown his hat into the political ring again and will run for a state Assembly seat on the Republican slate in November’s election.
“I was always taught that when you are asked to serve- serve. I was asked to serve and I look forward to going to Trenton,” he said earlier this week.
Acerra, who has been on the Ocean Township Council since July 2015, said he hopes to bring the harmony that exists on the local governing body to Trenton.
“We are Republicans and Democrats and we get along great. Why not try to bring the same thing to the Assembly and try to have the same thing on the state level? In Ocean Township, we listen to the issues, figure out what makes sense, and I want to do the same thing in Trenton,” he said.
If elected to the Assembly, Acerra will leave his seat on the council, where he was recently appointed as the Deputy Mayor.
“I feel I can be more effective in Trenton in a state-wide position and still feel I will be able to support and help Ocean Township in that role. I will miss the council, for sure, but I feel I have a lot to get done,” he said.
GOP Sen. Jennifer Beck formally announced her Assembly running mates March 3 during the annual Monmouth County Lincoln Day Dinner. Acerra will be running with Beck and Red Bank Councilman Michael Whelan,
“I’m privileged to announce the rest of the District 11 team. I’ve devoted my time in public service to fighting for Monmouth County families and I’m pleased that I will joined by two Assembly candidates who have done the same in Deputy Mayor Acerra and Councilman Whelan. We look forward to sharing our vision for Monmouth County, one in which we must adequately fund our school districts to ease our local property tax burdens, fight unreasonable affordable housing formulas and protect our quality of life” said Beck.
Acerra has lived in Ocean Township for more than 25 years with his wife, Rose, and three sons.
“I look forward to the upcoming campaign and applying the skills I have honed on the Ocean Township Council to the Statehouse in Trenton. It is time that we focus on the issues that matter, like our property tax crisis driving residents out of our state. I have a record of reaching across the political parties to achieve results locally. It is time we approach our state Legislature in a similar way” said Acerra.
Red Bank Councilman Mike Whelan has been a member of the Red Bank Borough Council since 2016. He grew up in Red Bank and currently serves as police and fire commissioner.
