JACKSON, NJ – Alfred Couceiro, a lifelong resident of Jackson, has announced his candidacy for council in Jackson Township. He launched his campaign with a heartfelt message to his friends and community on Facebook this week.
The letter is published, by request of the candidate in its entirety:
As someone who has proudly called Jackson home for more than three decades, I want to share with you my decision to run for Jackson Township Council. For most of my life, I have been racing toward emergencies in our town, but today I am asking to serve you on the front lines of local government by running for office on the town council.
As a town that is growing and changing, we can no longer rely on the status quo and expect anything in town to change. We need leaders who aren’t afraid to make tough choices so that Jackson continues to be a place we’re proud to call home.
The Jackson that I remember as a teenager is something we must continue to fight to preserve.
My roots in Jackson run deep, grounded not only in my work but also in my family’s history here. My wife’s parents dedicated many years of service to our town, and today my wife and I are raising our daughter in the same Jackson School District that we both proudly attended. For us, Jackson is more than just the place we live—it is the community where our family’s story has been written and continues to grow.
I began serving this community at the age of 16. Over the years, I have had the honor of leading as Chief of Jackson Township EMS for 19 years, serving as Fire Commissioner for Jackson Fire District 4, and acting as EMS Coordinator for both Jackson Township and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management. These roles have given me over 30 years of volunteer and professional experience in emergency services.
I have listened closely to our residents, and I know many believe it is time for a new face on the Jackson council. I believe that my decades of operational leadership, budget management, and coordination with multiple agencies have prepared me to provide that leadership. My goal is simple: to make sure the voices of our people are heard on the issues that affect us every day and our concerns are addressed.
I’m not running for a title or to play politics. I am running because Jackson needs experienced leadership to help guide our community into the future. More importantly, our town needs someone who can stand on their own, put people first, and has real roots here in Jackson. I want Jackson to remain what drew so many of us here in the first place—a safe, rural, successful, and thriving community.
If elected, I will continue to serve you as I always have—by listening, responding, and making sure your concerns are brought before the governing body. Together, we can make sure Jackson stays the town we’ve all worked so hard to build.
Today, I dropped off my signed petitions at Town Hall. In the coming days, I will be reaching out to more neighbors, and I would be grateful for your support and endorsement as fellow Jackson residents.
With gratitude,