Four candidates are vying for two Mantua Township Committee seats in the Nov. 4 election. The winners will serve three-year terms.
Incumbents Jack Steen and Eileen Lukens will face Sean Sepsey and Kristin Goschler.
Each candidate was sent a questionnaire in advance. At press time, Lukens had not responded. Answers are lightly edited for space.
Democrat Incumbents
Name: Eileen Lukens
Age: 62
How many years have you lived in Mantua?
I grew up in Mantua Township and moved back when I got married, approximately 50 years of residency in Mantua Township.
Family:
I have been married to my husband, Rob, for 35 years. We have three children, our oldest is Kelly who is married to Aaron, and they have a 4-year-old boy, my sweet grandson, Grady Robert. My daughter Robin and her husband live on my street in Mantua Township and are expecting their first baby (a girl) on October 31 of this year. Our youngest is Will and he and his girlfriend Samantha live in Old City Philadelphi.
School and degree: Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University, majoring in Political Science.
Profession: I am retired as Director of Community Management from Realty Solutions, a property management company in Audubon.
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for the committee? If not, how many years/terms have you served as council member?
No, I was an elected member of the Mantua Township Board of Education from 2008 to 2015, leaving that seat as Vice President. I have been a Township Committeewoman since February 1, 2016 to present.
What is your involvement in the community?
As my children were growing, I was involved in their youth sports, coaching soccer and VP of their Swim Team Parent Organization. Former board member of the Royal Oaks IV HOA. I am liaison to Board of Health and Rent Leveling Board and member of the Mantua Township Land Use Board.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I love Mantua Township and truly enjoy serving our residents. Over the past year, our committee has made exciting progress – we improved our park system by allowing dogs in the park, and it has been a huge success, and we will be adding pickleball courts to Chestnut Branch Park in 2026. We have also launched a holiday house decorating contest and welcomed a world class attraction, the Edelman Fossil Park and Museum – right here in Mantua Township. As I campaign for re-election, I am inspired by the overwhelming support from residents who share my love for this community. Helping to create activities and amenities that bring joy to our residents gives me tremendous satisfaction and strengthens our township’s sense of connection. Our senior citizen programs are outstanding as well. We provide bus service to stores and events and we have monthly dinners for the seniors. Now that I’m retired, I’m excited to devote even more time and energy to serving on the Township Committee and continuing the progress we’ve made together.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
My priority is to keep taxes in check. As I am just entering retirement and life as a senior citizen, I understand firsthand what it’s like to live on a fixed income and how important it is to hold the line on taxes. I will continue to look for smart, practical ways to save money for the township. During my time on committee, we have taken over court operations from neighboring towns, creating a new income stream for Mantua Township, while helping those towns manage their budgets more efficiently. We also assumed policing for the Borough of Wenonah, which benefits both communities financially. I will continue to seek similar opportunities that strengthen Mantua Township’s financial position and help keep our residents’ tax burden as low as possible.
Name: Jack Steen
Age: 43
How many years have you lived in Mantua? 16
Family: Wife, Nicole, two sons.
School and degree: Saint Joe’s University, bachelor of science in psychology, MBA from Rutgers University.
Profession: Software engineer
Is this the first time you’ve run for a committee seat? No
What is your involvement in the community?
I am the president of Mantua Little League and have been involved for eight years and 16 seasons.
Why are you running for reelection?
I want to give back and help move our community forward. As a committeeman, I’ll keep residents informed, engaged and connected to the issues that matter most.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if reelected?
Building a safe and healthy community where every resident has the opportunity to thrive. I’ll support our police, seniors and youth programs, strengthen community outreach, maintain stable taxes and invest in education and health, helping every resident live their best life.
Republican Challengers
Name: Kristin Goschler
How many years have you lived in Mantua? 22
School and degree: Rutgers University, Bachelor of Science
Profession: Teacher
Is this the first time you have run for a seat for the committee? No, I ran last year for Mantua Township Committee and lost by 40 votes
What is your involvement in the community?
I was a teacher in Mantua. My daughter was a student of the Mantua and Clearview School system.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I want to give back to my community. I have lived in Mantua for over 20 years, raised a family here, and taught in the schools. Running allows me to use that experience to make Mantua an even better place. As a teacher, I can bring skills in listening, problem solving, and working with diverse groups of people. Whether it’s taxes, development, parks, or schools, I want to make sure our local government focuses on the everyday concerns of the families in Mantua. I believe Mantua is already a great town, but with the right leadership, it can become even stronger for the future.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
If elected, I will focus on bringing greater transparency to our local government and accountability to our local government. Too often, residents feel left out of decisions that affect their taxes, development and quality of life. I believe our community deserves clear communication and easy access to information about where our money goes and how choices are made.
Name: Sean Sepsey
Age: 31
How many years have you lived in Mantua? 29
School and degree: BS in Business Management, Rowan University
Profession: Director of economic development, Salem County
Is this the first time’ve have run for a committee seat? No; ran in 2020 and 2022
What is your involvement in the community?
School board member, Clearview Regional School District. Board of directors, South Jersey Economic Development District. Advisor, NJ Delaware Bayshore Council.
Why are you running for an elected seat?
I love the community in this town. Over my lifetime, I have moved four times. Each time I intentionally chose to stay in Mantua because this is a town that I care for and wish to stay involved in. I am running for committee because I care deeply about serving our community and building a stronger future. I will work closely with our other government and private partners to find smart, cost-effective solutions that benefit residents. With proven experience in the various positions I hold, I am committed to bringing that same dedication and problem-solving ability to Mantua.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected?
I am running for office with a clear focus on economic development and expanding our services we offer our seniors. Earlier this year, the mayor expressed a need to focus on economic development. My professional experience positions me to play a key role in this effort. I also believe in strengthening senior services and enhancing our parks, without increasing local taxes. I successfully wrote and secured a $400,000 grant to expand county bus services for seniors and have also applied for and received grant funding to improve parks. I will bring this same commitment and expertise to serving Mantua.
