Middletown Committeeman Ryan Clarke On Why He Seeks Re-Election

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Current Middletown Township Committeeman Ryan Clarke will ask voters to re-elect him to the Township Committee in November.

There will be a primary election June 2, and Middletown residents will be asked to select two of three Republicans: Clarke, running with running mate Morganne Dudzinski, or Mark Soporowski.

Here is a profile of Clarke:

I am a lifelong resident of Middletown with deep family roots in the community. I bring more than three decades of dedicated volunteer service, including five years serving as Chief of the (11) company all-volunteer Middletown Township Fire Department. I have also proudly served for more than five years as a member of the Middletown Township Committee, where I remain focused on supporting public safety, strengthening local infrastructure and preserving the quality of life for our residents.

As both a professional and civic leader, I combine hands-on experience with a practical, solutions-driven approach to government and community service. Above all, I am a devoted husband and father who takes great pride in giving back to the community I have always called home. Clarke has two children; one child at Middletown North and the other at Saint Mary's Catholic grade school in Belford.

Why are you asking voters to re-elect you again? What are some of your accomplishments?

As a current member of the Township Committee, I’ve focused on making Middletown a better place to live by balancing fiscal responsibility with meaningful investments in our community.

First and foremost, I’ve worked to keep our municipal taxes as low as possible despite increasing pressure from unfunded mandates coming out of Trenton. At the same time, we’ve taken proactive steps to strengthen our financial position by entering into shared services agreements with surrounding towns — creating new opportunities for revenue while improving efficiency.

We’ve also made significant strides in preserving what makes Middletown special. In partnership with Monmouth County, we’ve preserved over 100 acres of open space. By partnering with the county, Middletown’s financial responsibilities on the acquisitions have been offset by a full 75 percent. This not only protects our community’s character, but also helps control long-term costs.

Investing back into our community has been another key priority. We’ve made meaningful upgrades to multiple parks across town, ensuring our residents have safe, modern spaces to enjoy. Through our Parks and Recreation Department, we’ve also expanded and supported a wide range of camp programs that benefit families throughout Middletown.

Public safety remains a cornerstone of everything we do. I have consistently supported our Police, Fire, EMS, and OEM — ensuring they have the resources they need to protect our residents and respond effectively in any situation.

Overall, my reasons for running for re-election are simple: protect taxpayers, invest in our community, and preserve the quality of life that makes Middletown such a great place to call home.

How was Morganne Dudzinski selected to be your running mate for Township Committee?

When considering a running mate, I asked myself what qualities would the person selected need to have in order to fill the shoes of current Committeewoman and former running mate Kimberly Kratz.

The response was strength, conviction, compassion and a love for the community. As we discussed possible running mates, Morganne's qualifications both professionally and personally aligned with my values and those of the Township Committee. Morganne is an accomplished professional, former Division 1 athlete, and most importantly a dedicated wife and mother. For all of those reasons Morganne agreed to run with me, rather than me selecting her.

Morganne Dudzinski On Why She's Running For Middletown Township Committee

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

In November, voters will be asked to choose two for Middletown Twp. Committee. The two Democrats running are Shawn Wallach and Jeremy Seideman. Both ran for Township Committee last year, as well.