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County Commissioner

Two seats are open on the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. On the Republican side, incumbents Doug Albrecht and Victoria Lods are running unopposed in the primary. While both attend the bi-weekly Republican breakfast meetings, the nature of those events has recently shifted. When InformTheVoteNJ began its voter education efforts two years ago, these breakfasts were presented as inclusive, civic-minded gatherings—welcoming Democrats, independents, and members of the press. After a recent article raised concerns about transparency in a local race that went unacknowledged at a township meet-and-greet, it was publicly stated at the breakfast that Democrats and the press would no longer be allowed to attend. Although I remain a registered Republican, my role in documenting these races now places me outside that circle. While the meetings still serve as a venue for regular updates and familiar Republican messaging among party loyalists, they no longer function as open forums for civic discourse across the political spectrum.

Commissioner Albrecht has since completed a radio interview with InformTheVoteNJ following our podcast-style interview with Democratic candidate LaRae Smith. Commissioner Lods, for her part, has not responded to any outreach attempts.

On the Democratic side, three candidates—John Capizola, Yolanda Balicki, and LaRae Smith—are competing for two available spots. Capizola, a former appointee to the Board, and Balicki, a respected immigration attorney, initially expressed interest in participating through their campaign manager Rick Dawson. However, a significant amount of time has passed without follow-through, and it now appears they are no longer interested in participating in this public-facing transparency effort.

In contrast, LaRae Smith has released a detailed campaign platform, launched a campaign website with scheduled public events, and recorded a full interview—setting a clear standard for accessibility and voter outreach.

Unfortunately, the local Democratic Party infrastructure continues to hinder broader public engagement. The county party’s website currently lists no events—not for endorsed candidates, nor for unendorsed ones—making it difficult for even loyal party members to stay informed or attend campaign activities. While the Republican breakfasts have narrowed in scope to party insiders, they are at least still functioning as a regular forum for internal updates. The local Democratic Party lacks even that level of organizational consistency, leaving their endorsed candidates with few visible avenues for voter connection or accountability.

With the primary fast approaching, endorsed Democratic candidates are running out of time to connect with voters, and Republican candidates—despite being unopposed—should not take their general election runway for granted. Regardless of party, voters deserve clear agendas, direct responses on well-known county issues, and a chance to compare candidates beyond party labels. After years of outreach and documentation, InformTheVoteNJ continues to track progress where it exists—and keep asking questions where it doesn’t.

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