HOLMDEL, NJ – The seat is open for the Holmdel township committee and Democrat Rahul Diddi is running against Republican Rocco Impreveduto.

Impreveduto is a Marketing and Digital Transformation Manager and has resided at Holmdel for eight years. A graduate of Holmdel High School and Penn State University, he was previously elected Vice President representing Holmdel for the Monmouth County Republican Committee.

Impreveduto lives with his wife Danielle and their three children Rocco, Daniel and Matthew.

Are you a candidate for a local office in 2021? Contact Catarina Moura at [email protected] for instructions on how to be included in a candidate profile and how to submit campaign announcements to Patch.

Why are you looking for an elective position?

It’s a way for me to give back to Holmdel in a more substantial way. Since returning to town I have had the opportunity to contribute as a member of the Monmouth Bayshore County Recreation Committee, Planning Board and Landfill Authority. I have also spent time coaching hundreds of Holmdel children in a variety of HYAA sports. This city is a special place to me and – cheesy as it sounds – I just want to be able to serve in the most impactful way possible.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or in government?

My father – Pat Impreveduto – has served our community with distinction for almost 20 years in a variety of capacities: Education Council Member, Holmdel Township Committee Member, Holmdel Mayor, and Commissioner of the Monmouth County Commissioners Council. It is an honor to have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.

The most pressing problem our community faces is _______, and here is what I plan to do about it:

Tax responsibility is paramount. The township has new and bigger sources of income – the PILOT program for example – than ever before. What we do with this money, how we use it for the benefit of our taxpayers while maintaining our 0% municipal tax rate is something I am very focused on. Currently, municipal tax revenues are on the rise and PILOTE is delivering beyond expectations. I think we need to take a critical eye on how these revenue streams work for us – for the benefit of taxpayers. It is not enough to limit taxes – what are we doing for our residents? For example, I would like to provide free transportation for the elderly to and from important local medical appointments. The expected cost would be minimal to the city, and many seniors have personally told me how beneficial it would be for them, so let’s find out!

What are the critical differences between you and other candidates for this position?

There is a lot of. As I wrote here at Patch, I have detailed plans to ease the burden of property taxes in Holmdel, provide service to – and strengthen engagement with – our seniors, and honor our veterans.

I am the only candidate who is openly fighting to preserve Open Space – especially regarding the Potter’s Farm situation and I am the only candidate who has pledged to donate his salary to local Holmdel organizations: The Half -Century Club, HYAA, and The Holmdel Theater Company.

I have a vision for Holmdel and how we can better involve and support everyone in our community. We want to preserve everything that makes Holmdel a great place to live while leveraging our resources to improve our community and the services and opportunities we provide to everyone. This city shouldn’t just stand still – we should aspire to do more and better for our taxpayers. It’s public service to me, not politics.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Of course, everything we want to do applies to three key principles: preserving open spaces, fiscal responsibility, and preserving our exceptional way of life. Some additional efforts in which we engage:

• Strengthen our public safety efforts by paying for school safety so that the Board of Education can redirect these funds to the learning and growth (mental, physical and emotional) of our children. The municipality recently agreed to pay up to 50 percent of the security costs in 5 years – with only 10 percent incurred this year. It’s just not enough – Holmdel is not a 50 percent city. The cost to protect our children is $ 300,000 / year. The township is responsible for public safety, we should pay the entire bill – period.
• If I am elected, I would also like to create a heritage committee. This idea came to me when I was asked how to fight the increase in anti-Asian hate crimes. The purpose of this committee would be to provide the various groups in our town with a direct line to the township committee to keep us abreast of the challenges within their community and find ways to better support them.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as proof that you can handle this job?

My entire career has been spent helping businesses run more efficiently, do more, and get more. The same principles apply here: understanding our current state and the challenges we face, developing a vision for the future, and implementing the appropriate plans to achieve the desired state.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be patient and persistent. Life is not so much what you accomplish as what you overcome.

What would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

If I am lucky enough to win your vote, I will govern on a simple principle: what is best for Holmdel. I pledge to honor your vote by serving only in the best interest of our community, putting Holmdel first. I’m here to serve you – plain and simple.

Additional reporting by Nicole Rosenthal