Unopposed, Dave Fried Re-Elected Mayor

Dave Fried Re-elected Robbinsville Township Mayor

Mike Cipriano, Debbie Blakely and Mike Todd Secure Township Council Seats

COMPLETE ELECTION RESULTS

ROBBINSVILLE, NJ – (November 2, 2021) – Running unopposed and with an impressive record of smart growth, tax stabilization, open space preservation, philanthropy and community service, Robbinsville Township Mayor Dave Fried was elected to another term Tuesday with a personal record 4,267 votes.

“This is an amazing community and it is a privilege to continue serving as your Mayor," Mr. Fried said. "Putting your name on a ballot is one of the most frightening things anyone can do. Without individuals willing to serve our governments would shut down. I am proud of the work we have done and excited about the work we will do over these next four years. I am forever grateful and appreciate the overwhelming support I have received, not just in this election but since my tenure began back in 2005. I want to thank my staff, which really is among the best in the business, and my family for all of their hard work, guidance, patience, love and support.”

The 2021 race was all about Township Council, where three of the four candidates on the ballot ultimately were elected to the governing body with terms beginning on January 1, 2022.

Incumbent and sitting Council President Mike Cipriano cruised to victory with 3,036 votes. Ms. Blakely, who was named to fill Dan Schuberth's seat in January, captured one of the two four-year seats and the most votes among Council candidates with 3,157 votes. Mike Todd ran unopposed for the two-year unexpired term of former Councilman Schuberth and garnered 3,137 votes.

Kiran Agrahara, making his election debut, received 1,657 votes. Mr. Todd will officially be sworn-in to fill the remainder of Mr. Schuberth's unexpired term on December 2. Since Ms. Blakely was appointed (not elected) to replace Schuberth in January, 2021, she will cede that Council position to Mr. Todd at that time before officially being sworn-in at the reorganization meeting January 6. Ms. Blakely will fill the four-year seat being vacated by retiring Hall of Fame Councilman Vince Calcagno.

In the Board of Education election, sitting president Vito Galluccio (3,347), Tanya Lehmann (3,233) and Jai Gulati (3,273) each were elected to three-year terms. Lauren Paluzzi (3,095) secured Craig Heilman's unexpired, one-year term.

In addition to preserving hundreds of new acres of open space since his last run for Mayor in 2017, Mr. Fried has delivered nine consecutive years of either flat or reduced municipal taxes and has raised over $350,000 for individuals and organizations in need since 2015.


"When I was first elected our plan was to tame a runaway tax burden that had been smothering our residents,” he said. “I am proud to say we’ve gone from having the highest and most unstable municipal tax rate in Mercer County, to the most stable.”

Mayor Fried and his team also distributed over 20,000 face coverings at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has overseen a 24 percent increase in Robbinsville property values from 2017-2021, slashed municipal debt 21 percent over the past five years, and a recently signed shared services partnership with neighboring Hightstown Boro to build a new police station and municipal court. 

"People of all backgrounds want to move into our community," the mayor said as part of his State of Robbinsville Township address October 5. "For almost every family, a home is one of the largest investments they will ever make, so we are proud to help protect that investment every day." 

Mayor Fried was first selected to fill an unexpired term in 2000 under the prior Township Committee form of government. He became the first mayor directly elected by the voters and was sworn in on July 1, 2005. Mr. Fried was previously re-elected in 2009, 2013 and 2017.

Mr. Fried is the CEO of Robbinsville-based Payday Payroll, which provides integrated payroll, benefits administration and human resources management services to employers. He is married with two children.

-RT-