That thing you always promised you will never do…but you end up doing. For Mike D’Elia, that “thing” is serving on the Lakewood Township Committee. Mike originally served on the Committee nearly a quarter century ago, and vowed to his family that he will not run again.

Well, in 2014 he did run again – and won. Mike is up and running again, on the ballot for reelection during the upcoming Primary and General Election races. Why? “I’m enjoying it this time,” he quips. On a serious note, he speaks about all that the Committee has accomplished in recent years, such as keeping the municipal tax rate flat and working diligently to add, widen and improve roads in order to alleviate traffic. He wants to keep the momentum rolling.

Mike is well past retirement age and he certainly does not need the title “Township Committeeman” to round out his resume’. In addition to the fact that he already earned that title years ago, his resume’ is already more than packed with impressive accomplishments and community service.

Committeeman D’Elia has been a member of the Lakewood Fire Department for fifty-four years, having served as Chief and Commissioner. He’s a “life member” of the Lakewood First Aid Squad; former coordinator of Lakewood Emergency Services and member of the County Emergency Planning Council; current member of the Lakewood Head Start Board; and much more. He is also the co-founder of D’Elia Funeral Home on Route 70, in which he remains active.

Most of all, Mike is proud of his forty-four year marriage to his wife June, their two children, Michael John Jr. and Patricia (Komsa); and four grandchildren. Michael and Patricia live nearby in Brick. Michael is a Lakewood Fire Chief and Patricia is Lakewood Township’s Human Resource Officer.

Having originally arrived in Lakewood as a young teenager, Mike D’Elia and his wife still live in the same home near Lake Carasaljo that he grew up in. Despite the monumental growth and demographic transformation that Lakewood has seen over the decades, Mike D’Elia says that he loves his town more than ever. He is happy to live in a vibrant, diverse town and points with particular pride to the high number of Lakewood firefighters who are members of the Orthodox community. “I was fighting for this – encouraging people to join – for a long time,” he says. “They’re great guys.”

Mike looks forward to continue serving Lakewood over the next three years and beyond. “This is my town too,” he stresses. “Believe me, especially at this age, that I have no ‘agenda’ other than to make Lakewood the best place it can be.”