The Mayor of Lakewood is usually voted on every year by the committee and it goes in rotation based on who has a majority of seats between Republicans and Democrats. The Republicans currently have a 3-2 majority. Last year Committeeman Delia was expected to be mayor and said so two weeks before the new year. In a last minute move the township voted in Mayor Coles from the Democrat Minority.
See here Mayor Coles sworn in for 2017
In a recent interview Ray Coles outlined his plans for 2018 perhaps hinting that he expects to keep the mayors seat in 2018. At the last township committee meeting of 2017 no major fanfare was done to indicate the mayor won't continue for next year. As always it won't be the township who will decide on the next year's mayor.
See here Mayor Coles sworn in for 2017
In a recent interview Ray Coles outlined his plans for 2018 perhaps hinting that he expects to keep the mayors seat in 2018. At the last township committee meeting of 2017 no major fanfare was done to indicate the mayor won't continue for next year. As always it won't be the township who will decide on the next year's mayor.