Manalapan-Englishtown Board Of Education Election 2026: Jenee Campo

MANALAPAN, NJ — Incumbent Jenee Campo is running for re-election to the Board of Education in the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

In November, Campo will run for one of three open full-term seats on the board alongside Jamie Herr and Kelly Lukacs under the "Collaboration. Opportunity. Responsibility." campaign. Mirsad Capric will also run for a one-year unexpired term under the same campaign.

Joseph Ventola will run for one of the three open full-term seats on the board under the "Quality. Accountability. Efficiency." campaign.

Ahead of the election, Patch posed several questions to Campo about her campaign platform, experience and what sets her apart from other candidates running. Her replies are below.

Editor’s Note: The following article contains information about one of the candidates running for the Manalapan-Englishtown Board of Education in 2026. Responses are written as received by Patch and only edited for style.

Patch has contacted all other candidates in this race with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

Are you running for election in Manalapan? Contact Sara Winick at sara.winick@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Jenee Campo

Age: 38
Town of Residence: Manalapan
Education: Rutgers University - Bachelor's Degree and MBA
Occupation: Small Business Owner

What drove you to seek public office?

Manalapan has been my home since I was a little girl. I grew up here, attended our schools, and now have the privilege of raising my own children in the same community.

When my oldest started school, I felt it was important to become more involved and give back to the community that gave me so much. I also wanted to set an example for my children that being part of a community means being willing to contribute to it.

I was appointed to the Board in January 2026, and serving these past several months has only strengthened my commitment to our district. With two young children who have many years ahead of them in our schools, I have a very personal interest in making sure we continue to provide an excellent education.

I'm proud to be running for reelection alongside Jamie Herr, Kelly Lukacs, and Mirsad Capric as part of the CORE Four, and I look forward to continuing the work we've started together.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

I bring nearly two decades of experience in accounting, finance, and business, along with the perspective of a parent raising young children in the district.

My professional background has taught me to ask questions, dig into the details, challenge assumptions, and consider the long-term impact of decisions. I'm not afraid to question how things have always been done, even when things are going well.

I also recognize that financial responsibility is only one piece of running a successful school district. Strong academics, student safety, special education, extracurricular opportunities, and parent involvement are all equally important.

What are past accomplishments or experiences that make you qualified for this position?

I hold an MBA and have spent nearly two decades working in finance and accounting, including experience with Deloitte and managing assets for The Carlyle Group. Throughout my career, I've been involved in negotiating multimillion-dollar mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions.

I later went on to open an accounting firm and another small business, both right here in Manalapan. That experience has given me a strong foundation in budgeting, financial analysis, negotiations, and long-term planning.

Since joining the Board in January, I've served on the teacher negotiations committee, supported the district's strategic planning initiative, and taken an active role in developing new committees focused on financial oversight and parent engagement.

If elected, what will be your top priorities in your new role?

Fiscal responsibility, long-term planning, and parental involvement will continue to be my biggest priorities.

I'm particularly excited about the work ahead with our new Finance Advisory Committee, which I chair, and the district's strategic planning initiative, chaired by my fellow Board member Mirsad Capric. These two efforts will work hand in hand to ensure that the priorities identified through strategic planning are supported by a realistic, long-term financial outlook.

I want us to be able to identify potential challenges early, understand what's driving costs, and make informed decisions without compromising the education our students receive.

As a mom, I know how much trust we place in our schools every morning when we drop our children off. I want parents to feel confident that their children's education, safety, and well-being are taken seriously. I also want to continue making it easier for parents to access information, understand district policies, and feel comfortable asking questions or raising concerns.

Ultimately, I want to build on what our district already does well while continuing to ask questions and look for ways to improve.

Name one thing about Manalapan-Englishtown that always makes you smile.

For me, it's the feeling of home. I've lived in Manalapan since second grade, went through our school system, and now get to watch my own children grow up here.

What I love most about this town is how much people genuinely care about it. Whether it's our schools, local businesses, youth sports, or community events, people are invested in making Manalapan a great place to live.

The people who live here love it here, and I think that says a lot about our community.