Fair Haven Mayor’s Race: Firsts in the Campaign & What Made Them Do It

This year’s Fair Haven mayoral race has some firsts and one second.

The one second is a guarantee. For only the second time in the borough’s 114-year official incorporation, there will be a female mayor — a first in decades, though. One of three women, each of different backgrounds and parties, will become the next mayor, replacing incumbent Mayor Josh Halpern, who announced months ago that he would not seek another term. Three mayoral candidates representing three different political parties? That’s a first. All three women? That’s also a first.

There’s also a status quo with a lot of gusto to be seen these mayoral race days in the borough. Yes, the Fair Haven mayoral race is on, has been for months, and candidates are actively running toward an Election Day finish line with mail-in and early voting ballots being cast as they continue to knock on doors, shake hands and platform chat to convey their vision of what’s best “for the good of the borough.”

There are those couple of firsts in this election that will decide who’s next to sit in that center dais seat of the strong council, weak mayor governing body. The three-party challenge is one of those firsts with Republican Betsy Koch, a nine-year council incumbent, Democrat incumbent council member Michal DiMiceli, and newcomer Independent and lifetime Fair Havenite Ana (Diana on the ballot) Antonnen in the running. The other first is that fact that all three are women. And there could be a third first, with a Democrat or Independent female mayor, depending on the outcome.

Back to the second in 114 years, though … The last, and only, female mayor in Fair Haven was a Republican Nancy Kern.

Yes, a woman has served as mayor in Fair Haven. Once. Nancy Kern. Kern, a longtime math teacher at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH), won her first term as mayor in 1982. She was sworn in January of 1983 and won a second uncontested term in ’86. Before her two-term mayoral stint, Kern served on Borough Council, she was also council president.

The incumbent Republican Borough Council President Betsy Koch comes closest to Kern’s political background, by virtue of not only party affiliation, but career. Both were math teachers — Kern at RFH and Koch in the Fair Haven Schools System (adding science to the math, too, for Koch). Koch, like Kern, has served as council president. She is currently president. Koch is running on her record of experience in borough business via her council seat.

The other two candidates, DiMiceli and Anttonen are running on experience and change platforms, respectively. DiMiceli boasts her professional background in administration for the City of Long Branch and council experience as one of two Democrats seated on the dais this term and the only one when first serving on council in 2024 (through 2025). Anttonen, the lifetime Fair Havenite, small business owner and newcomer to the race with no political background, is the second Independent that has ever run for mayor, touting a platform of people over party. Joseph Szostak, who served as mayor from 2002 to 2006, making history as the borough’s first Independent mayor.

Given the unique situation of three running for the four-year mayor’s seat when the race has been largely an uncontested one over the years, R-FH Retro, keeping history in mind, asked each candidate why and/or what precisely prompted them to run for what is a totally volunteer, unpaid, non-voting governing body member (except in a tie) position loaded with responsibility to its residents.

Here’s what each told us …

Betsy Koch

“After my husband passed away in 2014, I was offered the opportunity to run for a seat on the Fair Haven Borough Council. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I am now in my ninth year of serving on the Council and my fourth year as Council President.

“When our current mayor, Josh Halpern, decided not to run for re-election, I was asked to run for mayor. It seemed the perfect opportunity for me to continue to serve the residents of Fair Haven.

“I have worked on budgets, public safety, infrastructure, land-use, environmental issues and personnel. I have been fiscally responsible. I know our staff and the professionals who support our work. I taught math/science for 25 years at Knollwood School.

“I know how municipal government works. When I made my decision to accept the opportunity to run for mayor I believe I have the knowledge and experience to be the next mayor of Fair Haven.”
Fair Haven mayoral candidate, Republican Borough Council President Betsy Koch

Michal DiMiceli

“There wasn’t one particular moment that made me decide to run for mayor. In many ways, everything I’ve done throughout my life and career has led me here.

“When I first moved to Fair Haven, I fell in love with the town and quickly started getting involved. And the more I volunteered, the more I wanted to do. I saw how much could be accomplished when people came together, but I also began to see opportunities to do things differently and make improvements. One experience that really pushed me toward running for Council three years ago was dealing with significant flooding in my own back yard. It was incredibly frustrating, and I kept thinking that I didn’t want anyone else in Fair Haven to have to deal with what we were experiencing. I wanted to understand the problem, find solutions, and actually do something about it. That experience reinforced my desire to be in a position where I could have a greater impact.

“Serving on Council has only strengthened that feeling. I’ve learned so much about how our borough operates, what we’re doing well, where we can improve, and just how much potential we have. I also think the mayor plays an important role in setting the tone for a community. Not just making decisions, but bringing people together, establishing priorities, encouraging new ideas, and creating an environment where residents feel heard and people want to get involved. That matters to me. And I feel ready now.

“I bring 30 years of professional experience leading teams, managing operations, building businesses, and solving problems. Combined with my experience on Council and my hands-on work in municipal administration for the City of Long Branch, I have a much deeper understanding of what it takes to get things done in local government. I love Fair Haven. I love what makes it special, and I want to be part of shaping its future. Running for Mayor feels like a natural next step in something I’ve been working toward for years, even if I didn’t realize it at the time. I want to take everything I’ve learned, personally and professionally, and put it to work for the town I love — preserving what makes Fair Haven special, investing where we need to, and planning thoughtfully for the future.
Fair Haven mayoral candidate, Michal DiMiceli, Democrat, current first-term council member

Ana Anttonen — DIANA Anttonen on the ballot

“There wasn’t one lightning-bolt moment or incident at Borough Hall. It came from living here, raising my kids, running a small business, volunteering, and hearing neighbors who didn’t feel heard.

I’ve spent years putting my lifelong love for Fair Haven into action. Running for mayor is an extension of that. I want a local government that listens and makes it easier to get things done, regardless of party politics. I saw room for more energy and a better approach, and I decided to step up.”
Fair Haven mayoral candidate Diana “Ana” Antonnen, Independent first-time candidate

The three mayoral candidates recently took part in an online Monmouth County League of Women Voters candidates’ forum. To hear what they said in response to League-fielded questions, watch the full forum/debate video by clicking here.

Full questionnaires from R-FH Retro will be given to all council and mayoral candidates. The answers will be posted in the order they are received. While Antonnen is running for mayor solo, with no council candidate running mates, Koch is running with incumbent council candidates Kristen Hoey and Brian Olson, and DiMIceli is running with former councilman Chris Rodriguez and Marian Croak

— Elaine Van Develde, publisher, founding editor of R-FH Retro