What does it take to steer a ship like Lakewood?
For those who have been watching the growth of America’s foremost ir v’eim b’Yisrael, this past decade was perhaps the most surprising. Lakewood, New Jersey, went from being a place where young couples relocated for several years so the husband could learn in kollel to a place where thousands of people of all ages moved for better quality of life.
That has led to a massive expansion of housing and infrastructure in what is now the most populous township in Ocean County. And the trend will no doubt continue, considering that around half of Lakewood’s residents are under the age of 18.
Corralling all of that energy and making sure that it doesn’t turn into havoc is no easy task, and for the past six consecutive mayoral terms, one man has bravely stood at Lakewood’s helm: Raymond Coles, who has served on its Township Committee since 2001. To understand how he runs this most vibrant of towns, I recently spoke with the mayor.
Lakewood is booming, but it has a part-time mayor, which I find fascinating.
Well, it’s part time in name only. It’s really a full-time job. I’m very fortunate to have my own company, so I have the ability to take whatever time I need to address issues as they arise.
What does your company do?
We repair all the instruments that eye doctors use for examinations. I’ve been doing it for nearly 40 years.
I’m sure that as mayor, there are things that come up 24/7.
Absolutely, which is why I say that it’s really a full-time job. You’re always on call, but I don’t have a problem with that. I’m happy and honored to be able to do it.
What made you go into politics after a career in the private sector?
I’ve been living here for about 35 years. Around 25 years ago, my children were starting to get older, so I had additional time on my hands. With the support of my wife and my business partner, I started to get involved in some local things. I was on the Lakewood Development Corporation and served on the Lakewood Housing Authority, which allowed me to get a lot of different viewpoints on issues affecting the township. Then, in 2001, I was appointed to fill a spot on the Lakewood Township Committee that was being vacated by the late P.G. [Pinchos Gershon] Waxman when he left to take a job at the tax board, and I’ve been there ever since.
I understand that about half of the population of Lakewood is comprised of Orthodox Jews. Is that accurate?
I would say that it’s a larger percentage, between 60% and 70% at this point.
You’re in a unique position, a Catholic who ended up being mayor of a town where the majority of residents are Orthodox Jews. I don’t know if there’s another place like Lakewood in the United States.
There are probably some towns north of New York City like Monsey and Kiryas Joel that have a similar ratio, but otherwise Lakewood is one of a kind.
You’re catering to a community with unique needs, and you also have a large Latino presence as well as others. Trying to serve everyone must be a real balancing act.
When you look at people as people and just try to deal with individuals rather than groups, it becomes a lot easier. That’s what I try to do.
Still, I would imagine that you were elected because you understand the needs of this particular community and what drives it.
I do, and I’ve been very honored to do so. I know there are a lot of things that are important to the people here, many of which were also important to me when I was younger: making sure I had a safe and wholesome place to raise my children; that I had a good school system in which to educate them; and then, as they grew older, the opportunity for them to find fulfilling jobs and careers. So it’s really not that different from when I grew up.
Where are you from originally?
Like many people in Lakewood, I was born in Brooklyn. After being raised in Staten Island, we moved here when my oldest daughter was six months old.
Many people didn’t anticipate that the COVID pandemic would push so many people to leave New York and settle in Lakewood.
People have been coming here long before COVID. With the emergence of BMG, Lakewood became a magnet for people who were looking for a frum community and lifestyle away from the hustle, bustle and expense of the city.
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