Campaign Buzz

We value a township with less government and lower taxes + education + public health and safety + honest and clear information + beautiful, open space.

Ron and Kristin's Key Positions

I. JCP&L Power Lines:

Push JCP&L to place the high-voltage lines underground starting now, especially around the Parkway;
Bring in outside experts to evaluate how JCP&L should handle high-voltage lines near residential areas and reduce potentially harmful impacts,
Hire independent experts to assess property value depreciation along the power line route and explore options for compensation to impacted homeowners.

II. Vonage Sewer Expansion: Do not use taxpayer dollars or public bonding to extend sewer service south of Bell Works. Require the developer to pay for a fully modern sewage treatment plant at the Vonage site.

III. PILOT Revenue and Schools:

Hold a referendum and let residents decide on PILOT sharing between the Township and schools, and ensure any change requires a clear resident mandate.
Hold a referendum and let residents decide whether we should bring back courtesy busing

IV. Transparency: Have dedicated public information “one-pagers” that clearly and concisely explain Township issues based on facts and not political spin. Current 1-pagers should be provided for Potter’s Farm contamination remediation, Pappas Farm, affordable housing mandates, Big Ugly Utility Poles, including the cost of burying the lines.

V. Fiscal Responsibility (DOGE the Township): cut excess spending, which has increased exponentially from the Bell Works PILOT revenue.

Vanderham Failed to Protect Our Children

Despite repeated parental warnings, the Holmdel Football Association and Gary Vanderham failed to protect 7- and 8-year-old children from physical and emotional abuse.

As detailed in a 2025 Patch article and a related lawsuit, a coach, who was also the HFA Commissioner, physically and verbally abused players, including ripping a 7-year-old’s helmet off and berating children during practices and games.

Formal complaints were made to HFA leadership, but no corrective action was taken. Vanderham was a board member and served as Vice President.

Worse still, they ousted a Board member who spoke up against the abuse.

Under Vanderham’s tenure, a convicted criminal was allowed to coach and abuse young children, even though a background check is mandatory under state law.

https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/holmdel-youth-football-coach-yanked-7-year-old-s-helmet-berated-players?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_term=community+corner&utm_campaign=autopost&utm_content=holmdel

Taken together with their lack of concern regarding drinking water contamination tied to the Vonage development, Vanderham and his running mate, TJ Mann, have shown a consistent disregard for public health, safety, and the welfare of Holmdel children.

Now they want to run our town?

Ron Emma and Kristin Celauro are proven advocates for Holmdel.

On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP - Kristin CELAURO (5E) and Ron EMMA (4E) for Township Committee.

At a Planning Board meeting earlier this year, the Township Engineer, T&M Associates, admitted it never reviewed the wastewater treatment plant for the Vonage redevelopment.

Did T&M review:
• The giant utility pole project and its impact on Holmdel property values?
• The contamination at Potters Farm and the potential $1+ million cleanup cost?

If not, why not?

T&M was appointed Township Engineer in 2024, then donated thousands of dollars to the political organization or campaign backing Mayor Rocco Impreveduto, Brian Foster, and now Vanderham and Mann.

This “Pay to Play” — political donations from firms doing business with the town – is a form of soft corruption.

Even worse are contracts awarded based on nepotism. Asbury Park Press reported that Monmouth County Commissioners awarded a contract to Northstar Strategies, two months after Northstar hired TJ Mann, the son of County Administrator Teri O’Connor.

Northstar received over $430,000 from the County after they hired Mann:

2022: $90,000

2023: $108,000

2024: $98,500

2025: $140,000

Mann is now running with Gary Vanderham for Township Committee. Both are endorsed by Impreveduto and Foster, birds of a feather flock together.

Holmdel deserves better.

On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP - Kristin CELAURO (5E) and Ron EMMA (4E) for Township Committee.

“Pay to Play” and Other Corruption

Selective Outrage, Public Betrayal

Rocco Impreveduto knew about major issues threatening Holmdel and stayed silent until it became politically convenient for him to speak out. Then he feigned outrage and put out fake news.

Where was Mayor Impreveduto’s outrage when his supported candidates, Gary Vanderham and TJ Mann, hit a new low in lying, smearing, and then doxxing their opponents, putting their safety at risk?

Where was Impreveduto's outrage when “Giant Ugly Utility Poles” were proposed to be installed in Holmdel, destroying our town’s bucolic nature and property value? JCP&L said on News12 that it started work in 2023 and had worked collaboratively with the Township every step of the way!

Where was Impreveduto’s outrage when the Vonage development was set to contaminate our drinking water? Impreveduto knew for TWO years and ignored it until Kristin Celauro and other concerned residents made enough noise about it.

Where was Impreveduto’s outrage when Holmdel purchased Potters, using millions of dollars of taxpayer money, when it is on a list of “Known Contaminated Sites”? Impreveduto did not disclose the contamination or that the cost of remediation could be in the millions of dollars.

Did T&M Associates, the Township Engineer, also fail to catch the contamination, like when they publicly admitted that they did not review the Vonage wastewater management plant? Where was Impreveduto's outrage at the $80,000 spent for an engineering report?

Or is Impreveduto turning a blind eye because T&M donated thousands of dollars to his campaign and allowed such willful neglect of duty?

It’s troubling that our elected officials betrayed public trust, in violation of the oath they took.

Holmdel deserves better, much better! And that’s a fact!

On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP - Kristin CELAURO (5E) and Ron EMMA (4E) for Township Committee.

Big Ugly Lies

Regarding Holmdel's "Big Ugly Utility Poles," JCP&L said on News12 that it started work in 2023 and has worked collaboratively with Holmdel Township throughout the process.

According to First Energy, the parent of JCP&L, it filed its plan with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in November 2023 and received a rate settlement that allowed it to move forward around February 2024, when Rocco Impreveduto was also the Mayor.

Why did Mayor Impreveduto issue a press release stating that he stands firmly with residents against the utility poles after residents expressed outrage at these poles when he and the Township Committee had known about this since 2023?

It’s time to elect candidates who have proven to be real advocates of Holmdel.

On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP - Kristin CELAURO (5E) and Ron EMMA (4E) for Township Committee.

Video clip: https://youtu.be/a3ThXsw39gw

Big Ugly Utility Poles

Residents are watching massive new utility poles being installed throughout Holmdel. The poles are like nothing we’ve ever seen, and they are destroying the town's bucolic nature and appearance – and potentially, property values.

Other towns have pushed back, and JCPL has offered alternatives, including burying wires. Just earlier this month, JCP&L withdrew its controversial application to install transmission towers in Millstone, NJ, following intense community opposition.

There have been no discussions of these poles at Township Committee meetings, no briefings, no renderings, and importantly, no choices for taxpayers. Deputy Mayor Brian Foster said that “there is nothing we can do” at a TC meeting.

Sound familiar? The Township Committee knew about contamination of our drinking water from the Vonage development for two years and did nothing until residents uncovered the truth, banded together, and demanded a change.

Holmdel deserves leaders who will actually fight for residents.

Ron Emma and Kristin Celauro stood up for clean drinking water and fire safety.

On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP - Kristin CELAURO (5E) and Ron EMMA (4E) for Township Committee.

A New Low

Nothing is off limits for Gary Vanderham and TJ Mann in their blind ambition to win the June primary — including doxxing and releasing our personal information.

They know we owe no taxes and have no outstanding tax liens. Facts didn’t matter. Smearing us did.

Posting it on social media wasn’t enough — they mailed it to thousands of residents.

It’s illegal, unethical, and reckless. It puts us at risk of harassment, intimidation, and identity theft.

Holmdel deserves better.

Vote for proven Holmdel advocates, not dirty politics.

On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP - Kristin CELAURO (5E) and Ron EMMA (4E)

Once again, instead of real issues, Gary Vanderham and TJ Mann want to distract Holmdel voters with fake news and innuendo. This time, they managed to hit a new low.

For the record, we owe no taxes and there are no outstanding tax liens on our property.

In 2018, Peter and I started looking at a way to realize our lifelong dream of owning a farm, and we fell in love with the Hop Brook Farm.

The same month we closed on the Hop Brook Farm, tragedy struck. Peter’s brother, Mark, was diagnosed with stage four cancer. He had been a 9-11 first responder at Ground Zero and worked there for 10 months, seven days a week. Like all of the other responders, he was told the air was fine and his health was safe.

We found ourselves by Mark’s side for the next year and a half, fully covering expenses we had once shared. Mark said his final goodbyes in June of 2020.

To buy the farm, we had taken money from an IRA, but our plans to pay it back quickly fell apart before our eyes.

Despite this tragedy and all of the “overdue” notices that put tremendous pressure on us, we developed a new plan. It was hard, but it was the right thing to do, and we dug deep and persevered.

Today, we are proud to say we have paid every penny owed.

Public records show that every tax lien has been released. Vanderham and Mann know this but they would rather engage in dirty politics. They would rather share their post and delight in it, in spite of the facts.

The release of those documents without redacting the address, etc., is against public safety policy on doxxing. Vanderham and Mann know or should have known better.

We are not ashamed or embarrassed to share this story. We hope this gives a little more insight into why we feel so strongly about protecting public health and how hard we fought to preserve Hop Brook Farm.

This is how hard we will fight to protect Holmdel.

And we love any chance to talk about and remember Mark.

On June 2nd, remember to VOTE BOTTOM UP, Kristin Celauro (5E) and Ron Emma (4E) for Township Committee.

Kristin Celauro

Township Committee Candidate

When Politics Crosses the Line

LYING and MISLEADING

As a member of the Planning Board, TJ Mann sat on the dais and heard the Vonage developer’s expert testify that wastewater would be discharged directly into the stream feeding our drinking water reservoir.

Gary Vanderham certified that he watched all prior Planning Board meetings, including that one.

The Township Committee knew about the wastewater contamination issue for two years and did nothing until Kristin Celauro and concerned residents forced action.

So why did Vanderham and Mann send out their “cut the crap” text blast? (See picture)

Do they think contamination of our drinking water is a joke instead of a serious public health issue?

What else are Vanderham and Mann willing to lie and mislead Holmdel about?

It’s time for change. Ron Emma and Kristin Celauro are proven advocates who will put Holmdel First.

On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP, Kristin Celauro (5E) and Ron Emma (4E) for Township Committee.

Real Issues, Not Fake News and Distractions

Surprisingly, amid alarms raised about cancer cases from contamination at nearby Keyport and in Colonia, where Kristin Celauro was raised, the opposition decided to put out fake news and false innuendos to distract voters from the real issues.

Kristin Celauro is a long-time Republican and served as the spokeswoman for Donald Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee, but that didn’t stop them from trying to label her as a Democrat. Then, they tried to attack her and the historic Hop Brook Farm (aka Franco Celauro Farm), which preserves open space and allows for the regeneration of our drinking water without the use of eminent domain and using millions of taxpayers $$$.

Ron Emma and Kristin Celauro fought for safe, clean drinking water and transparency about contamination at Potters Farm, a “known contaminated site” on NJ DEP and Holmdel’s own Environmental Resource Report.

What else will they lie about to distract Holmdel residents from the real issues?

It’s time for a change. On June 2, VOTE BOTTOM UP, Kristin Celauro (5E) and Ron Emma (4E)! Holmdel deserves better!

Potters Farm - A Known Contaminated Site

Did you know that Potters Farm is a known contamination site by the NJ DEP and Holmdel Environmental Commission that is unsafe for children to play?

This was not disclosed at all when the Township Committee announced its acquisition and took a victory lap. Gary Vanderham, a member of the TC and Holmdel Environmental Commission, knows or should have known about this and said nothing at the time.

Please watch the video.