The Township Committee moments ago has once again voted to appoint Mayor Ray Coles as the 2018 Mayor of Lakewood.The Township Committee majority is Republican, and the Mayor is typically chosen from the party majority. The position is voted between the Committee member themselves.

Lichtenstein, Miller and Coles voted for the latter for Mayor, and D’Elia and Akerman voted “no”.

The Republicans have had the majority in Lakewood (3-2) for approximately 10 years, and the Mayoral position has rotated between the three Republicans until last year, when Coles, a Democrat, was voted in as Mayor.

Prior to last year, Coles, who has served on the Committee since 2001, last served as Mayor in 2008, when the Democrats had the majority. Serving as Mayor since, were Committeeman Miller, Committeeman Akerman, and then Committeeman Steven Langert.

Committeeman Miller, a Republican, was also voted in as Deputy Mayor for the second year in a row.

Also during the meeting, the Township announced the appointments to the various boards, including new members to the Planning Board. The members are now John Franklin, Israel Grunberger, Aron Shain, Chaim Sabel and Justin Flancbaum.