Manchester Township is located in Ocean County. It was incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey State Legislature on April 6, 1865, from portions of what was then Dover Township (now Toms River). Portions of the township were taken to form Lakehurst on April 7, 1921. The township completely surrounds the borough of Lakehurst, making it part of 21 pairs of “doughnut towns” in the state, where one municipality entirely surrounds another. It has an area of 82.51 square miles. The township was named by William Torrey for Manchester England.
The 2020 United States census counted 45,115 people in the township. According to the 2010 US Census, just over 50% of the residents are 65 years of age or older, with the median age at 65.1 years old.
As of January 2026, there are approximately 36,500 registered voters in Manchester.
Like much of Ocean County, Republican voters outnumber Democrats and Unaffiliated Voters. Current data indicates that there are approximately 15,000 Republicans, 11,400 Unaffiliated, and 10,100 Democrats.
Since July 1, 1990, Manchester Township has been governed by the Faulkner Act, under the Mayor-Council system of municipal government. Of the 564 statewide municipalities, it is one of 71 municipalities that use this form of non-partisan government. The Township’s governing body is comprised of the Mayor and a five-member Township Council. The mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term.
Councilmembers are elected at-large to serve four-year staggered terms with either two or three council seats up for election in even-numbered years, with the mayoral seat up at the same time that two council seats are up for vote.
In November 2011, the township’s municipal elections were shifted from May to November. Because the form of government is non-partisan, Primary elections are not conducted in June.
In 2026, three seats are up for election in November: Mayor and 2 Town Council seats. If you or someone you know might be interested in exploring running for local office, nominating petitions to get on the November ballot will be available in May. Please contact us at info@manchesterdems.com to discuss – we would love to hear from you!
The 2026 elected officials for Manchester are:
Mayor:
Joseph Hankins (2026)
Township Council:
Sandy Gravatt-Drake (2026)
Roxanne Conniff (2026)
Craig Wallis (2028)
James Vaccaro, Sr. (2028)
Michele Zolezi (2028).
The current boards are:
Zoning Board of Adjustment, Planning Board, Environmental Commission, Open Space Committee, Plan Endorsement Citizen Advisory Committee, Wildfire Safety Council, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Senior Advisory Council, Mayor’s Veteran’s Advisory Committee, Economic Development Advisory Council, Municipal Alliance Committee, and the Rent Leveling Advisory Board.
Town Council meetings are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month, unless otherwise noticed. Meetings start at 6:00 PM in the Courthouse Room, 1 Colonial Drive. Residents are strongly urged to attend and as Democrats, it is incumbent upon us to hold this Administration accountable and show up!
The various Boards, Authorities, Commissions and Committees that supplement the Administration meet throughout any given month. Meeting dates are posted on the Township website.
MUNICIPAL ALLIANCE COMMITTEE: This is an alliance of the township, police department, schools and residents, whose goal is alcohol and drug abuse prevention through awareness and education.
https://manchestertwp.com/committees/municipal-alliance/
OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE: This Committee will advise and make recommendations to the Town Council regarding the preservation and purchase of land for open space. https://manchestertwp.com/committees/open-space-committee/
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSON:
https://manchestertwp.com/committees/environmental-commission/
SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL – The members of this Council advise the Mayor and Town Council on all matters that affect the senior residents of the Township. They also are responsible for the coordination of programs and activities which are specifically directed to the needs of senior residents.
PLANNING DIVISION:
https://manchestertwp.com/departments/department-of-inspection/planning-division/
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT:
https://manchestertwp.com/departments/department-of-inspection/board-of-adjustments/
For meeting dates, use the links to check the website page for each committee/department.
You can also check the Township’s “EVENTS” page: https://manchestertwp.com/events/