Town Council Candidates
Candidates for Town Council
for Town Council
for Town Council
for Town Council
for Town Council
David Herrera – Candidate for Town Council
David Herrera, a Cuban Italian American and a 20-year East Brunswick resident, garnered his interest in giving back to the community that has supported him over the years. David is an East Brunswick High School graduate and a homegrown success. Having faced many struggles in early adulthood, his subsequent journey to self improvement culminated in finding purpose through recovery and public service. As such, he feels a strong connectivity with many of the problems facing our society. He was raised by a hard working single mother who helped him foster a sense of resilience, values of sacrifice, and strong determination. Faith in his fellow citizens is a key tenet of his philosophy.
David is a small business owner and previously operated two restaurants in town. He has been responsible for all facets of his business, mastered managerial and service skills, and handled private and corporate relationships. He has worked with people of different backgrounds, view points, and lifestyles. David cares about providing career building opportunities to those disenfranchised by previous incarceration or substance abuse. David believes that building skills in hospitality services and associated creative outlets provides a path to developing leadership skills and stability.
A testament to his creativity and commitment to the community, David helped his small business thrive during this past year under the pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic. He adapted, operated more efficiently, and focused on providing the customer service that the community needed. He believes that applying the same philosophy to our town can bring about economic prosperity and tax cuts to the people who truly need it. David knows that understanding people’s needs can often help one create solutions and he is a prime example of when you put your mind to something, anything is possible!
Antoinette Evola – Candidate for Town Council
Antoinette Evola moved her family to East Brunswick seven years ago with community in mind. Seeking a quiet life away from the city, she knew East Brunswick is where she wanted to call home. She started her small business here. She’s raising her children here. She wants to take an active role in shaping a community that supports generations to come.
Antoinette started speaking up for fairness at a very young age. Just after college, an Employee Union (Local 3) representative approached Antoinette to become a shop steward at a major retail store. It didn’t take long for the Union to identify her as a strong employee advocate, and she was asked to assist in contract negotiations. Despite a seasoned and aggressive management team, Antoinette and her colleagues successfully negotiated a fair contract. This experience taught Antoinette how to productively work with the opposition and reach an agreement that is a “win” for all.
“I have been very involved in politics at the state level for many years and want to be involved at the local level,” Antoinette said. As an advocate for issues related to small businesses and parental rights, she has built working relationships with elected officials, top thought leaders, and fellow advocates across the Garden State. Fellow business owners, East Brunswick parents and residents look to Antoinette for guidance on key legislation, and to be the voice of the citizen through outreach to local officials on critical issues. From the headline to the fine print, she dedicates time to fully understand policies and legislation that impact her friends, colleagues and family.
If she doesn’t already have the answer, she will find it. That’s why her peers trust her and look to her for leadership on critical issues.
Antoinette is a fresh voice with a diverse background and proven track record when it comes to getting results. As a small business owner with a growing art business, she knows that the voice of the customer is the key to her success. Driven by word-of-mouth referrals, her business has expanded. She knows that a strong business presence in East Brunswick not only supports her own family – it supports the families of East Brunswick business owners.
East Brunswick voters can count on Antoinette to represent them. She will make decisions for East Brunswick that align with what the community wants. She will know what the community wants because she will listen and ask questions.
The day-one difference: Antoinette’s impact on East Brunswick following her election to the Town Council:
- Transparency around how City Council decisions will impact families / taxpayers
- Collaboration by creating a culture of participation within our community
- Accountability by removing the barriers between policy-makers and the people
- 2-way Communication – talk WITH people, not AT them
Neal Shah – Candidate for Town Council
Early Life & Education – Neal Shah was born in Cincinnati Ohio, and spent most of his childhood there. Graduating from the local Princeton High School and then attending the University of Cincinnati, Neal obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance. This was followed up with a Masters in Business Administration from Rutgers University in Supply Chain and Marketing. He currently has plans to apply to get his Doctoral in Business Administration.
East Brunswick – Neal and his wife both having graduated from the University of Cincinnati decided to move east. They spent two years in Stamford, CT before finally settling in East Brunswick. Over the past 18 years Neal and Ruchi Shah have been the proud owners of 3 different homes in the 08816 zip code. They also welcomed both of their children Anushka (17) & Aryan (14) while living here. Neal has also been heavily involved in youth sports, coaching Basketball (Fast Break), Soccer and Baseball since 2010.
Work History – Neal started his career as an auditor for Federated Department Stores (Macy’s), and when he moved east, he transitioned to working as a Management consultant for companies such as the Port of Authority, BPA, and Reed-Elsevier. He later transitioned into opening up his own boutique consulting firm where he worked with companies such as Douglas Eliman, & Cohen Reznick. Neal finally landed at Verizon where he became a marketing executive.
Candidate forum – After looking for ways to become more involved in the EB community, Neal decided to run for Town Council in 2022. His motivation revolves around meaningful change, new ideas and a more responsible vision. As a father of two children in the public schools, who he helped navigate through the pandemic, Neal has seen first hand many aspects within the town that can be improved upon for our families, including a lack of activities for our town’s youth. Also, we have seen many residents transitioning from commuters, to a more of a stay at home lifestyle, this has created new demands on the infrastructure of the town. It has become more important than ever to elect leadership who can appropriately respond to the evolving needs of our town. Neal will use an inclusive approach and will work tirelessly to listen to the needs of residents, while maintaining the charm that has attracted us all to East Brunswick. Politics and personal agendas will never replace the EB first mentality he and his running mates intend to implement when elected to the town council.
Joseph Kincaid – Candidate for Town Council