Dan Xavier Announces Run for Freehold Borough Council Seat

A member announced his intention to seek a seat on the . , 36, filed a petition with the Monmouth County Board of Elections on Wednesday to run in the June Democratic primary.

“I decided to run for Borough Council because I love Freehold and I have a vested interest in the success of our community,” Xavier said in an email to Freehold Patch. “While I understand the practical needs of Borough residents, I’ve also had the opportunity to travel quite extensively (through my military background and professional endeavors) and feel I can leverage some of my life experiences for our town during these challenging times.”

Two three-year terms on the Borough Council are up for grabs in the November election. Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer, a Democrat, and Councilman John Newman, a Republican, are seeking reelection, though potential running mates have yet to be determined.

While Xavier, a marketing professional and eight-year resident of Freehold Borough, has filed his paperwork for the June primary, the Freehold Borough Democratic Club has not selected a candidate to run with Shutzer yet, according to Democratic Club Chairman and Councilman Kevin Kane.

“We’re in the process of interviewing candidates. We have six, possibly seven candidates, of which Dan is one,” Kane said.

He said Xavier’s decision to file will not impact the club’s usual process of soliciting and interviewing a field of candidates.

 “We're going to continue to do it the way we’ve always done this. Our intent is to interview and choose the best person to complement Sharon,” Kane said.

In a press release announcing his candidacy, Xavier touted his experience on the Board of Education and as a volunteer with the Freehold Borough Fire Department, the Freehold Borough Human Relations Committee, the Freehold Borough Neighborhood Pride Committee, and the Olive Branch Lodge Freemasons.

“In the various positions and roles I've held over the years, I'm proud of my accomplishments in a number of areas – including expanding the Borough’s recycling services which saved taxpayers money, helping to literally construct the Freehold Borough community garden, and founding a holiday toy drive for the Borough's underprivileged children,” Xavier said. “As the chairperson of the Freehold Borough School District’s Funding & Finance Committee, I'm also an advocate of seeking out new, non-taxpayer funded revenue sources and a champion of shared services in the district.”

If he does ultimately win the June primary and the November general election, Xavier said he would resign from the Board of Education. If elected, Xavier said he would push for increased shared services with neighboring municipalities and stricter code enforcement to protect the historic character of Freehold Borough.