Bob Jordan

@BobJordanAPP

Voters still trying to decide on stomaching Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton shouldn’t stop there: A slew of local elections to be decided Tuesday will likely have even greater impact on the day-to-day lives and wallets of taxed-out New Jerseyans.

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Just ask Neptune residents Pam and Ray Sadler, both of whom say they’re studying down-ballot choices for nine other elections — two township committee seats, four countywide offices, two statewide public questions, and one House of Representatives election.

Most New Jersey school districts are also having elections.

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“Some people only vote in the presidential elections and don’t vote for the local candidates. I see that all the time,’’ said Pam Sadler, resident of a community where property taxes average $5,967, supporting a combined municipal, county and school tax levy of $74 million. “Don’t stand back and complain if you’re not going to contribute your opinion.’’

Going into Tuesday's vote, Clinton and Trump are the two most disliked presidential nominees in modern American history, with 49 percent of likely voters viewing Clinton unfavorably and 48 percent viewing Trump unfavorably, according to the latest ABC News/Washington Post survey.

But turned-off voters would do themselves no favor by staying home — especially in a state where the average property tax bill is $8,353, the highest in the nation.

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Neither Trump nor Clinton will have much sway at all on how local money is spent, says Ben Dworkin, director of Rider University’s Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics.

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“Local government will typically have much more to do with your quality of life and how much you pay in taxes than the federal government, especially in New Jersey where the property tax is a significant burden on many families,’’ said Dworkin, who added that it “wouldn’t be surprising’’ if the local races get overlooked by voters.

“In a presidential year, all the oxygen seems to get sucked out of the room by the race for the White House, and we’ve never had a presidential election like this one, with two candidates having such high negative ratings,’’ he said. “But that doesn’t diminish how meaningful the local races are.’’

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Here’s a sampling of some of the election choices residents in Monmouth and Ocean counties have:

Monmouth County freeholder, two seats. Incumbent Republicans Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso are facing Democrats Matt Doherty and Sue Fulton. Main issues: Taxes, spending and economic development, with challengers calling for more investment in Brookdale Community College.

Incumbent Republicans Tom Arnone and Serena DiMaso are facing Democrats Matt Doherty and Sue Fulton. Main issues: Taxes, spending and economic development, with challengers calling for more investment in Brookdale Community College. Monmouth County sheriff. Incumbent Republican Shaun Golden is facing Democrat Jeff Cantor. Main issues: The heroin epidemic, counterterrorism, emergency management and a countywide dispatching system.

Incumbent Republican Shaun Golden is facing Democrat Jeff Cantor. Main issues: The heroin epidemic, counterterrorism, emergency management and a countywide dispatching system. Monmouth County surrogate. Incumbent Republican Rosemarie Peters is facing Democrat Vincent Solomeno. Main issues: candidates disagree on whether the office has been innovative enough.

Incumbent Republican Rosemarie Peters is facing Democrat Vincent Solomeno. Main issues: candidates disagree on whether the office has been innovative enough. Ocean County freeholders, 2 seats . Incumbent Republicans Jack Kelly and Virginia Haines are facing Democrats Ed Wolff and Michael Cooke and independent John Novak. Main issue: opioid abuse.

. Incumbent Republicans Jack Kelly and Virginia Haines are facing Democrats Ed Wolff and Michael Cooke and independent John Novak. Main issue: opioid abuse. Ocean County sheriff. Republican incumbent Michael Mastronardy is facing Democrat Sal Ottaviano and independent Michael Osborn. Main issue: opioid abuse.

Republican incumbent Michael Mastronardy is facing Democrat Sal Ottaviano and independent Michael Osborn. Main issue: opioid abuse. Toms River Township Council, Ward 2. Republican incumbent Kevin Geoghegan is facing Democrat Daniel Rodrick. Main issues: Taxes and overdevelopment, particularly in the northern part of Toms River, where more than 1,400 homes are either approved or under construction.

Republican incumbent Kevin Geoghegan is facing Democrat Daniel Rodrick. Main issues: Taxes and overdevelopment, particularly in the northern part of Toms River, where more than 1,400 homes are either approved or under construction. Toms River Regional Board of Education. Candidates Al Caporaso, Ginny Rhine, Janet Bell and Alfred Schwartz are all seeking the one seat from Toms River. Daniel Leonard, Leslie G. Brown and Alexander Mizenko are seeking a Beachwood seat and Pine Beach incumbent Russell K. Corby is seeking re-election against challenger Jennifer Etzkorn. Main issues: This is the first school year since superstorm Sandy in which the district adopted a budget without substantial federal disaster aid; district-based property taxes are up an average of 3.4 percent despite elimination of 15 jobs; and the contract with teachers expired June 30.

Candidates Al Caporaso, Ginny Rhine, Janet Bell and Alfred Schwartz are all seeking the one seat from Toms River. Daniel Leonard, Leslie G. Brown and Alexander Mizenko are seeking a Beachwood seat and Pine Beach incumbent Russell K. Corby is seeking re-election against challenger Jennifer Etzkorn. Main issues: This is the first school year since superstorm Sandy in which the district adopted a budget without substantial federal disaster aid; district-based property taxes are up an average of 3.4 percent despite elimination of 15 jobs; and the contract with teachers expired June 30. Howell Township Council and mayor. Democrat Theresa Berger is facing Republican Dan Cardellichio and a third-party candidate, Patience Nolan, for mayor. Democrat Joseph Montella is facing Republican Evelyn O’Donnell for council. All are newcomers. Main issues: Implementing planning and zoning ordinances that prohibit “Lakewood-style’’ development.

Democrat Theresa Berger is facing Republican Dan Cardellichio and a third-party candidate, Patience Nolan, for mayor. Democrat Joseph Montella is facing Republican Evelyn O’Donnell for council. All are newcomers. Main issues: Implementing planning and zoning ordinances that prohibit “Lakewood-style’’ development. Lakewood Township Committee. Republican incumbent Albert Akerman is facing Democrat Mordechai Gross. Main issues: Better management of explosive growth and control of the governing body, with Republicans now holding a 3-2 edge.

Republican incumbent Albert Akerman is facing Democrat Mordechai Gross. Main issues: Better management of explosive growth and control of the governing body, with Republicans now holding a 3-2 edge. Red Bank Borough Council, 2 seats . Independent Cindy Burnham and Democrat Kathleen Horgan are the incumbents. They face Republicans Brian Hanlon and Kellie O’Bosky Colwell and Democrat Erik Yngstrom. Main issues: Taxes and downtown redevelopment.

. Independent Cindy Burnham and Democrat Kathleen Horgan are the incumbents. They face Republicans Brian Hanlon and Kellie O’Bosky Colwell and Democrat Erik Yngstrom. Main issues: Taxes and downtown redevelopment. Jackson Township Council, 3 seats. Kenneth Bressi, Barry Calogero and Robert Nixon from the Leadership for Jackson’s Future slate are running unopposed. Main issue: Residents say they’re afraid of overdevelopment, linking Lakewood’s population boom with the growing Orthodox Jewish population in Jackson.

Asbury Park City Council, 3 seats. Incumbents Eileen Chapman, Amy Quinn and Yvonne Clayton (Asbury Together slate) are vying with challengers Daniel Harris, Stephen Williams and Kenneth Saunders Jr. (Citizens for Asbury slate). Main issues: growth of Memorial Drive corridor, balance of retail vs. restaurants, affordable housing, bridging East-West divide.

Incumbents Eileen Chapman, Amy Quinn and Yvonne Clayton (Asbury Together slate) are vying with challengers Daniel Harris, Stephen Williams and Kenneth Saunders Jr. (Citizens for Asbury slate). Main issues: growth of Memorial Drive corridor, balance of retail vs. restaurants, affordable housing, bridging East-West divide. Neptune Township Committee, 2 seats. Incumbent Democrats Carol Rizzo and Robert Lane are facing Republicans Michael Fornino and Candy Storey. Main issue: The challengers have proposed having an outside commission work with the police department.

Incumbent Democrats Carol Rizzo and Robert Lane are facing Republicans Michael Fornino and Candy Storey. Main issue: The challengers have proposed having an outside commission work with the police department. Middletown Township Committee, 2 seats. Incumbent Republicans Gerry Scharfenberger and Kevin Settembrino are vying with Democrats Mary Jo Fabiano and Ralph Borgess and independent Brian Largey. Main issues: Proposals for the Village 35 shopping center and a Jersey Central Power & Light 230-kilovolt transmission line.

Incumbent Republicans Gerry Scharfenberger and Kevin Settembrino are vying with Democrats Mary Jo Fabiano and Ralph Borgess and independent Brian Largey. Main issues: Proposals for the Village 35 shopping center and a Jersey Central Power & Light 230-kilovolt transmission line. Brick Board of Education, 2 seats. The candidates are Walter Campbell, Victor Finamore, Daisy Haffner, Melita Gagliardi, John O’Rourke and Madeline Colagiovanni-Iannarone. None are incumbents. Main issues: aging school facilities and special education.

The candidates are Walter Campbell, Victor Finamore, Daisy Haffner, Melita Gagliardi, John O’Rourke and Madeline Colagiovanni-Iannarone. None are incumbents. Main issues: aging school facilities and special education. Barnegat Township Committee, one full term and one unexpired term. Incumbent Republican Albert Bille is vying with Democrat Armando Quiroz IV and independent Christopher Velders Sr. for a three-year term. Incumbent Republican Alfonso Cirulli is facing Democrat Craig Kleinfield for a one-year unexpired term. Main issue: safety of the township parks.

Incumbent Republican Albert Bille is vying with Democrat Armando Quiroz IV and independent Christopher Velders Sr. for a three-year term. Incumbent Republican Alfonso Cirulli is facing Democrat Craig Kleinfield for a one-year unexpired term. Main issue: safety of the township parks. 2nd Congressional District. Incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo is facing Democrat Dave Cole, Libertarian John Ordille, and independents Gabriel Brian Franco, Steve Fenitel, Eric Beechwood and Jim Keenan. The district includes all of Long Beach Island, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton and part of Stafford. Main issues: jobs, the economy, taxes.

Incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo is facing Democrat Dave Cole, Libertarian John Ordille, and independents Gabriel Brian Franco, Steve Fenitel, Eric Beechwood and Jim Keenan. The district includes all of Long Beach Island, Eagleswood, Little Egg Harbor, Tuckerton and part of Stafford. Main issues: jobs, the economy, taxes. 3rd District House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur is facing Democrat Frederick LaVergne and Larry Berlinski of the Constitution Party. The district includes Toms River, Brick, Berkeley, Lacey, Barnegat, Ocean Township (Waretown), and part of Stafford in Ocean County, and most of Burlington County. Main issues: curbing the heroin crisis, immigration.

Incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur is facing Democrat Frederick LaVergne and Larry Berlinski of the Constitution Party. The district includes Toms River, Brick, Berkeley, Lacey, Barnegat, Ocean Township (Waretown), and part of Stafford in Ocean County, and most of Burlington County. Main issues: curbing the heroin crisis, immigration. 4th District House of Representatives. Incumbent Republican Chris Smith is facing Democrat Lorna Phillipson, Libertarian candidate Jeremy Marcus and independent Hank Schroeder. The 4th Congressional District includes 34 municipalities in Monmouth County, the Ocean County towns of Bay Head, Jackson, Lakehurst, Lakewood, Manchester, Plumsted, Point Pleasant Beach and part of Point Pleasant Borough. Main issues: jobs, taxes and the economy.

Incumbent Republican Chris Smith is facing Democrat Lorna Phillipson, Libertarian candidate Jeremy Marcus and independent Hank Schroeder. The 4th Congressional District includes 34 municipalities in Monmouth County, the Ocean County towns of Bay Head, Jackson, Lakehurst, Lakewood, Manchester, Plumsted, Point Pleasant Beach and part of Point Pleasant Borough. Main issues: jobs, taxes and the economy. 6th District House of Representatives. Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone is facing Republican Brent Sonnek-Schmelz, Libertarian Judi Shamy and Rajit Malliah of the Green Party. The 6th District includes most of Middlesex County, the Bayshore in Monmouth County and 12 oceanfront communities. Main issues: taxes, trade, foreign policy.

Incumbent Democrat Frank Pallone is facing Republican Brent Sonnek-Schmelz, Libertarian Judi Shamy and Rajit Malliah of the Green Party. The 6th District includes most of Middlesex County, the Bayshore in Monmouth County and 12 oceanfront communities. Main issues: taxes, trade, foreign policy. Statewide Public Question 1: A "yes'' vote allows casino gambling in two counties outside Atlantic County.

A "yes'' vote allows casino gambling in two counties outside Atlantic County. Statewide Public Question 2: A ''yes'' vote dedicates gasoline tax revenues to the funding of road and transportation projects.

Bob Jordan bjordan@gannettnj.com