ABOUT US
We Are Republicans for
Franklin Lakes 1st
MISSION STATEMENT
Independent Thinkers for Franklin Lakes
Republicans for Franklin Lakes 1st is a team consisting of Dennis Bonagura, Gary Sheppard and Michele DeLuccia dedicated and committed to preserving the integrity and beauty of Franklin Lakes. We strive to maintain our AAA bond rating and to support our public safety teams, while also minimizing over-development and promoting open space. With the support of Mayors Donch, Bivona, and Kahwaty, we strive to keep Franklin Lakes 1st.
D e n n I s B o n a g u r a
I moved to Franklin Lakes in the early 1960s as a child and enjoyed the recreational programs and all the schools, including Ramapo High School. When I married my wife, Kristine, we decided to start our family in the wonderful community of Franklin Lakes. With our four children, Michele, Andrew, Alex, and David, and now with our four grandchildren, Dominik, Mila, Benjamin and Gianluca we have lived in Franklin Lakes for over 29 years.
Currently, I am retired with over 30 years of successful experience providing fiscal, strategic, and operational leadership as a business executive, owner, and CEO. Since retirement, I have started a small boutique business advisory company, Professional Business Strategies, LLC, helping business owners and executives get "unstuck" from the day-to-day details of their business; whether it be financial management, work-life balance, hiring systems, marketing, sales, customer service, or exit and succession strategies, the one thing I know is that a goal without a plan is just a wish.
In recent decades, our family has developed a deep connection to this great community. Our children attended all the local schools: Most Blessed Sacrament Academy, High Mountain, Colonial Road, FAMS, Ramapo, Indian Hills, and DePaul Catholic. Michele, Andrew, Alex, and David were involved in many teams and activities in town, such as baseball, softball, basketball, scouts, soccer, MBS Youth Group, and football. I enjoyed coaching all of my children in the sports they played and cherish those memories. I have valued the opportunity to serve on the Recreation Commission for more than a decade, ending in 2005. Currently, I serve as the Council President here in our wonderful town.
Today as Council President, I sit on the Public Safety Committee, which includes Fire, Police, Ambulance, Office of Emergency Management, Court, REACH, Franklin Lakes Recreation and Parks Committee, the Northwest Bergen County Utilities Authority (NBCUA) Board of Commissioners, and the Franklin Lakes County Committee (District 5), where I represent our community both locally and at the county level.
I look forward to continuing to serve you as a member of the Franklin Lakes Council and a Fiscally Responsible Republican for Franklin Lakes 1st.
Gary Sheppard
Franklin Lakes Councilman - 2023 - present
Member of the Franklin Lakes Planning Board for 14 years, 2010 to present - Unanimously elected Chairman
Member of the Franklin Lakes Environmental Commission - 2012 to 2022
Franklin Lakes Education Foundation – Board member - 2 years
Franklin Lakes Rec Coach for Basketball and Lacrosse - 5 years
RYSA Wildcats Coach - Soccer
Chairman - Westchester Square Business Improvement District, Bronx, NY
Steering and Formation Committee Creating:
* Tremont Avenue Business Improvement District, Bronx, NY
* Morris Park Business Improvement District, Bronx, NY
* Castle Hill Business Improvement District, Bronx, NY
President - Sheppard Hale & Associates Inc. a real estate developer
Senior Vice President - Cushman & Wakefield
Executive Managing Director, Director of National Accounts - The Galbreath Company
Executive Managing Director - Helmsley Spear, Inc
Education: BioMedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
23 Year Resident of Franklin Lakes
35 year Real Estate Executive and Business Owner with experience in Development, Management and Brokerage
Michele DeLuccia
Michele DeLuccia is a Cum Laude graduate of Villanova University. She and her husband, Rob, have been residents of Franklin Lakes for 22 years, while happily raising their four children (Robbie, Jenna, Lauren, and Gregory) as War Eagles. All four children went through the Franklin Lakes K-8 schools (Bright Horizons at High Mountain Road School, Woodside Avenue School, and Franklin Avenue Middle School), and then branched out to attend four different high schools: Don Bosco Preparatory High School ‘20, Ramapo High School ‘22, Immaculate Heart Academy ‘25 and Saddle River Day School ‘26.
Michele has enthusiastically contributed her time as member of the Franklin Lakes community, volunteering for an array of organizations. She created the Franklin Lakes Newcomers and Neighbors Club Kindergarten Meet and Greet in 2006 and continued to run for the next 7 years.
Michele served as Woodside Avenue School’s PTA recording secretary for 2 years, and then as Woodside’s PTA President for 2 years. While at Woodside, Michele co-chaired International Night and was a co-chair of the Change the World initiative which raised money throughout the year to host a school wide event for students and parents to package 40,000+ meals in one day.
She was also a secretary on the FAMS PTA for several years.
Michele was appointed to the Franklin Lakes Recreation and Parks Committee and served two 3-year terms from 2016-2022. This led to her becoming Co-President of the re-established Franklin Lakes Parks and Recreation Foundation in 2017, a position she still holds to this day. The Foundation raises money to help fund and support various projects in town, such as the Dog Park, the Pulis turf, the Muni fieldhouse, and annual college scholarships, to name a few.
In 2017, Michele was honored to be recognized with the Mayor’s Volunteer Award, as well to have participated in Mayor Bivona’s Community Advisory Group. She also volunteered on the Jack Wallace Parade Committee. Most recently, Michele was the co-chair for the Borough’s Centennial Speakeasy Gala in March 2022.
The DeLuccia Family are parishioners of Most Blessed Sacrament Church, where Michele had volunteered as a religious education teacher for many years.
As it is clear from the above, Michele is and has been an actively dedicated contributor and supporter of the Franklin Lakes community and looks forward to continuing her service in the Town Council.