Mark Soporowski On Why He's Running For Middletown Township Committee

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — There will be a primary election June 2 in Middletown.

On that date, voters will choose two candidates from the Democrat and Republican parties to run for two seats on the Middletown Twp. Committee later this year.

The two Democrats running are Shawn Wallach and Jeremy Seideman. Both ran for Middletown Twp. Committee in 2025.

However, the Republican primary is a competitive primary. Three Republicans are running: Current Middletown Committeeman Ryan Clarke, Morganne Dudzinski and Middletown school board member Mark Soporowski.

Voters will be asked to choose two.

Clarke and Dudzinski are the candidates backed by the Monmouth County and Middletown Republican parties, and Soporowski is running as the independent Republican.

"A lot of encouragement from people in town pushed me to step up," he told Patch when he first announced he is running.

Soporowski is married with children enrolled in Middletown public schools, and is the owner of Gateway Liquors liquor store in town, which he just recently expanded and now serves food. As an elected member of the Middletown school board, he has been very vocal against closing schools, saying the process was rushed and done without transparency.

Because the Republican primary is competitive, all three candidates provided statements to Patch about why they are running. Here are Soporowski's answers:

"My name is Mark Soporowski and I am running for Middletown Township Committee because local government should work for the people by the people.

As an entrepreneur in Middletown for nearly two decades, I am a proven leader who has built and sustained a local business while continually employing members of this community. I understand the challenges families and business owners face every day because I live them. This perspective, along with my conservative values of personal responsibility, fiscal discipline, and limited government, are why I am right for Middletown.

I will provide a practical approach to improving quality of life, maintaining our roads and infrastructure, and strengthening our parks and community spaces.

My service on the Board of Education has reinforced how critical transparency and accountability are to good governance. When those principles are missing, trust breaks down. Residents deserve a clear voice in the decisions that impact their lives.

My campaign is centered on common sense leadership and smart, responsible development that fits our community. I do not support overdevelopment. Growth must be responsible. Developers must contribute their fair share to support our roads and services, while we continue investing in our parks and overall quality of life.

Currently, we do not directly elect a mayor. Therefore, I support exploring a charter commission study to evaluate how our local government is structured. In addition, we must take a fair look at whether or not the annual property reassessment program is actually benefiting taxpayers.

This campaign is about restoring trust, focusing on what matters most to residents and making sure our town is moving in the right direction. I am not backed by any group, which means I answer only to the people. I will always be accessible, ready to listen, and open to a real conversation with anyone in this community.

At its core, that is what a primary election should be about. Giving people a real choice and letting them decide who will represent them. I respectfully ask for your vote."

If Soporowski won election to the Township Committee, he would have to resign from his seat on the school board. It is illegal to hold two elected offices in New Jersey.

Mail-in ballots have already been sent to homes. The general election will be in November. You will hear from Dudzinski and Clarke later this week.