In a presidential election that’s so sensationalized and controversial, it can be easy to let our local elections fall to the wayside. But, unbeknownst to many Americans, sometimes local elections can be more important than even the presidential one. The fact is, Presidents are making sweeping, general policy decisions for the direction of our nation, but they have no jurisdiction over the specific laws in our localities. Things like your property taxes, the safety of your neighborhood, and your local economy are directly affected by local politicians. For this reason, it’s important that we stay educated not just about our presidential race, but about our local ones, too.

In Monmouth County, polling is overseen by the County Clerk’s Election Division. Upon visiting their website, voters can find out who the candidates are, learn how to make sure they’re eligible to vote, or find contact information for the Clerk’s Office. Perhaps most importantly, the website has a sample ballot, which is essentially a blank ballot available for viewing before election day. It contains each candidate’s name and party affiliation, and is helpful for people looking to prepare themselves for their options on November 8th.

Taking a look at the local candidates, the first choice voters are presented with is for Sheriff. While police departments have primary jurisdiction and are the first responders in an emergency, the Sheriff’s office supports local police with specialized services like K-9 narcotic & explosive, Search & Rescue, suspect search, bomb disposal, Emergency Response Team, and 9-1-1 dispatch. Voters can choose between the Republican candidate, Shaun Golden, who currently holds the office of Sheriff, or the Democratic Candidate, Colonel Jeff Cantor. In his campaign, Golden highlights his status as an incumbent and his experience law enforcement. Cantor’s campaign lauds his experience as a war veteran in Iraq and Afghanistan and as a town councilman for Marlboro. The Sheriff’s race heated up recently when, in a debate, Cantor accused Golden of having a conflict of interest due to being both Sheriff and the Chairman of the Monmouth County Republicans, though Golden says this is untrue.

Voters will also be electing someone to the role of Surrogate. A Surrogate is a judicial officer who has jurisdiction over the probate of wills, the administration of estates, and more. This year’s candidates are Democrat Vincent Solomeno and Republican Rosemarie Peters, an incumbent. Peters’ campaign says that her background in law helps her be a more effective Surrogate while also saving the county money. Solomeno, a captain in the New Jersey National Guard, alleges that Peters has been essentially running the office on autopilot, and he can better provide privacy for families.

The last decision for Monmouth county residents is for the position of Freeholder. Two Freeholders will be elected to the Board, which regulates county property and finances, maintains roads and parks, and supervising the county government. For election on the Republican side are Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso, both incumbents. Arnone, who has served as a Freeholder since 2011,  believes his experience at municipal-level government and his background in business make him a good choice for Freeholder. DiMaso stresses her background as an attorney and Holmdel Mayor, but is facing backlash for a scandal where she received family health coverage despite a county policy that prohibited her from receiving such benefits. Running as Democrats are Sue Fulton and Matt Doherty. Fulton was one of the first women to graduate from West Point, and hopes to bring to the table her LGBT advocacy and experience in  the military as a former Army Captain. Doherty is currently the Mayor of Belmar, and says he wants to bring his record of financial stability and bipartisanship in Belmar to the rest of the county.

Although it’s easy to simply focus on our Presidential candidates, in today’s world more than ever, it’s important to learn to enact change on the local level, too. By staying involved in out local politics, we can ensure that every member of Monmouth County has a voice.