Kia Phua
Challenger Kia Phua is running for Ocean County Commissioner in Ocean County, New Jersey. Election day is November 3, 2026.
Kia is 48 years old and resides in Berkeley Township with his wife Monique, and four children. The Phua family have a graduate of Ocean County College, a graduate from Central Regional High School as well as two children going to Central Regional Middle School and Berkeley Township Elementary School. Kia has an associate degree in accounting as well as a bachelor’s degree in business administration in general management.
Kia is a blue-collar civil servant, employed as a train operator for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) NYC Transit for the past 23 years. From 2011 to 2018, he also served as a union representative for the 42,000+ member Transport Workers Union, Local 100. In 2016, he was elected as vice-president of Rapid Transit Operations, representing the MTA’s train operators, conductors, and tower operators. On his time with the union, Kia said, “It is an honor and privilege to serve the proud members of our union to help better the lives of my colleagues and their families.”
Kia’s ability to lead does not stop at the workplace. He is also an active community leader and activist fighting for the needs of the people. Before moving to Berkeley Township in 2019, Kia was active in the Borough of Dunellen in Middlesex County since moving there in 2005. There, he was heavily involved in several community organizations. He was the committee chairman of Cub Scout Pack 26 and the founder and first scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 119. Both youth groups are chartered by the American Legion. For his service to the scouts and community, the American Legion made Kia an honorary member of the organization. Kia served as a Board Member of the Dunellen Education Foundation, which fundraises and awards educational grants to individuals and groups in the borough and served as a board member for the Dunellen Little League where he took on the role of treasurer and coach for several years. He was also a member of the Dunellen Parent-Teacher Organization, where his wife, Monique, was a board member serving as treasurer. In his willingness to serve, Kia was also a Eucharistic minister at St. Francis Church, assisting the Priest and Deacon in distributing the Holy Communion to the congregation of the Church.
In Berkeley Township, Kia is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Berkeley Girls Softball League, where he is also a head coach for a recreational team as well as one of the travel teams in town. A few years ago, Kia restarted Cub Scout Pack 27 in Berkeley Township after the group was dismantled a few years ago. “In a township, with hundreds of children attending the four elementary schools in town, the children of our community deserve to have a program available like the Cub Scouts,” Kia says. “We have children participating in Cub Scouts in our neighboring towns in Lacey and Beachwood, but we need our own program in town where other children can participate in as well.”
When asked about running for Ocean County Commissioner, Kia says, “We deserve more from our elected officials. We need leadership that is more in touch with the community, leadership that knows what our needs are.” Kia continues, “I would love to create liaisons with the diverse communities in Ocean County to bring in fresh ideas to help build a better government, that listens and works for the people. As Commissioner, I would be able to bring a new perspective to county government with my vast experience in community affairs and representing people.”
Kia is a blue-collar civil servant, employed as a train operator for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) NYC Transit for the past 23 years. From 2011 to 2018, he also served as a union representative for the 42,000+ member Transport Workers Union, Local 100. In 2016, he was elected as vice-president of Rapid Transit Operations, representing the MTA’s train operators, conductors, and tower operators. On his time with the union, Kia said, “It is an honor and privilege to serve the proud members of our union to help better the lives of my colleagues and their families.”
Kia’s ability to lead does not stop at the workplace. He is also an active community leader and activist fighting for the needs of the people. Before moving to Berkeley Township in 2019, Kia was active in the Borough of Dunellen in Middlesex County since moving there in 2005. There, he was heavily involved in several community organizations. He was the committee chairman of Cub Scout Pack 26 and the founder and first scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 119. Both youth groups are chartered by the American Legion. For his service to the scouts and community, the American Legion made Kia an honorary member of the organization. Kia served as a Board Member of the Dunellen Education Foundation, which fundraises and awards educational grants to individuals and groups in the borough and served as a board member for the Dunellen Little League where he took on the role of treasurer and coach for several years. He was also a member of the Dunellen Parent-Teacher Organization, where his wife, Monique, was a board member serving as treasurer. In his willingness to serve, Kia was also a Eucharistic minister at St. Francis Church, assisting the Priest and Deacon in distributing the Holy Communion to the congregation of the Church.
In Berkeley Township, Kia is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Berkeley Girls Softball League, where he is also a head coach for a recreational team as well as one of the travel teams in town. A few years ago, Kia restarted Cub Scout Pack 27 in Berkeley Township after the group was dismantled a few years ago. “In a township, with hundreds of children attending the four elementary schools in town, the children of our community deserve to have a program available like the Cub Scouts,” Kia says. “We have children participating in Cub Scouts in our neighboring towns in Lacey and Beachwood, but we need our own program in town where other children can participate in as well.”
When asked about running for Ocean County Commissioner, Kia says, “We deserve more from our elected officials. We need leadership that is more in touch with the community, leadership that knows what our needs are.” Kia continues, “I would love to create liaisons with the diverse communities in Ocean County to bring in fresh ideas to help build a better government, that listens and works for the people. As Commissioner, I would be able to bring a new perspective to county government with my vast experience in community affairs and representing people.”
