Mary Beth Jahn is the choice of the Monmouth County party
By Charles Layton
The Monmouth County Democratic Party officially endorsed Mary Beth Jahn for re-election to the Neptune Township Committee today, rejecting the efforts of Neptune party leaders to oust her from the ticket.
County chairman Victor Scudiery sent a letter to the County Board of Elections this afternoon listing the party’s chosen candidates to appear on the June 5 primary ballot. Those candidates for Neptune were Jahn and the other incumbent who is up for re-election, Dr. Michael Brantley.
However, the candidate who has challenged Jahn, Nicholas Williams, indicated he was not quitting. When asked to comment on Scudiery’s decision, he said: “I’m looking forward to running with Dr. Brantley as my running mate and I think that we will prevail.” He refused to say more.
Even though Williams won’t be listed on the party’s “line,” he can still run with his name appearing elsewhere on the ballot. Politicians point out, though, that it is an uphill battle for a candidate who is not listed among the party’s endorsed slate.
The issue of Jahn versus Williams has touched off a bitter fight among local Democrats. On March 24, a majority of the local party’s district leaders voted to replace Jahn with Williams, a former school board member. However, rather than accept that decision, Jahn chose to fight back, and Mayor Randy Bishop joined in her cause, openly opposing the party’s municipal chairman, James Mowczan, as well as some other prominent members of the Neptune party.
Nicholas Williams says he'll run anyway. Photos by Mary Walton
Jahn’s other colleagues on the Township Committee, all of whom are Democrats, took no public stand one way or the other in the dispute. But a grass-roots showing of support from Democrats and Independents, many of them from Ocean Grove, strengthened Jahn’s case.
“I’m very grateful for all of the residents of Neptune who stood up for me and allowed me to have another three years to serve them,” Jahn said after hearing of the county party’s decision in her favor. “I especially want to thank Randy Bishop for all his support. He’s always been my mentor and he really helped me keep it together.”
As for the party rift, she said, “We hope that we can come together as one Democratic Party in the future.”
Ken, that’s actually what I’m working toward as a career goal, but I still have about six or seven undergrad courses I have to finish to get my BA (in communications) and then earn my Master’s in public administration, along with taking the four sets of classes to become a state-certified professional business administrator. I would never want to work in the same town in which I live; for me, and I speak only for me and not in criticism of anyone else, I would find the line between the personal and the professional aspects of the job too blurry in too many areas. It’s something that can be very difficult at times as an elected official, and I imagine could be very hard when a relative’s or neighbor’s job is in your hands.
If Neptune’s DEMOCRATS wish to appoint an ex-mayor to replace Mr. Huhn, has Mary Beth Jahn been considered? Should make a real tough, uncompromising Township Administrator.
good luck nick williams, you deserve it
The Republicans were in control when I bought here in 1985 and ran things for a long time. Bad things happened and some Township employes and officials were investigated and sent packing: resignations, firings, even jail. Maybe that contributed.
Maxster, as the liaison to redevelopment, what exactly has Midtown been promised that hasn’t been delivered?
Things are moving along well with a second office building and the phases of mixed commercial/retail/residential space going east down West Lake Avenue.
The biggest hurdle any new construction project faces these days, be it public, private, not-for-profit or other, is financing. The first Midtown Commons building had its state Economic Development Authority loan, funded by tax credits from investors, wired to the developer the Monday after Lehman Brothers collapsed. Everyone involved – and Midtown redevelopment has been a multi-agency, multi-administration, non-partisan effort – spent the weekend with their phone glued to them for any last-minute meetings.
The original Midtown build plan was to have four phases, most built on speculation, as the real estate was hot at the time, money was cheap and lenders and developers could afford to have their investments sit on the market for a while. Clearly, things have changed – lenders are requiring signed leases or sales agreements before we can build.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have followed some very important advice from the state Economic Development Authority: do not issue municipal bonds to pay for redevelopment, and especially spec redevelopment. Those bonds send the municipality’s debt through the roof, but if you can’t lease or sell the redeveloped space, the taxpayers are going to take a double-digit tax increase and diminution of services right on the chin to make up for the bond payments that won’t be covered, and empty buildings are invitations to crime. Your municipality’s bond rating will go down the toilet, too, which will increase bond interest rates and potentially hamper a town from providing needed infrastructure repairs to roads, sewers and other important municipal public utilities.
As a longtime project manager and business/financial analyst, I can say that 99% of projects do not implement in the exact form or vision that they originally appear in a project plan or development agreement. There are huge variables like the credit market, weather, construction or property purchase costs, encumbered property titles, environmental mitigation and changes in size or scope, to name a few. Above all, the community must be involved and their wishes heard and respected. Midtown has one of the highest home-ownership rates in Neptune, and many of those families who own their homes hold the title free and clear, with no mortgage.
I don’t think I can agree with your assessment that Midtown has had “the rug pulled out from under them.” I certainly respect your opinion. If you ever want to talk or email about this topic, feel free to call me at 732-272-7888 or email me at mcdlancer@aol.com . I won’t ask your name, and I would love to hear your views.
Disheartened,
Getting a Republican on the Committee will NEVER happen in this town because the Democrats have a built in constituency in Midtown (you know the section of town Democrat Randy Bishop was concerned about being connected to Ocean Grove) and the Republicans have been an embarrassment with their leadership.
You see, the Democrats keep promising things to Midtown, which constantly votes Democrat, but then the Democrats pull that promised rug out from under Midtown, sort of like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown.
And then, the Republicans can’t seem to pull enough votes out of Ocean Grove anymore despite your high taxes and the Democrats constantly looking for more.
What is it, I believe the Republicans haven’t won seats in 7 or 8 years? Not sure on that.
Although I want to see Mary Beth relected for another term, some time in the future, it might be a good thing to have a Republican or two on the township committee. After exposure to the recent shenanigans of the Democratic party club leadership, including the unprofessional behavior of the club president, maybe it’s time to lessen the influence of this gang of whatever!
@ Nancy “agreed”
Sally,
Or a *good* omen. Perspective is everything. 😉
Sally, no disrespect to the Republicans, but they seem to be having a hard time coming up with candidates.
This three way split will open the door for the new Republicans to get back into power. Everyone is happy about Jahn and Williams battling, but I see it as a bad omen.
Nick should stay in the primary, Maxster, even without the county endorsement. I would have. Like you said, the decision should be up to the voters.
In 2006, when Doc and I first ran, the late Jerry Meyer ran as an independent because he felt very strongly about financial and environmental issues. He knew how tough the road ahead of him would be but he did it anyway. His passing has been a great loss to Neptune.
You know, just thinking. With Nick Williams staying in; could he pull enough votes to knock off Dr. Brantley? This could be interesting.
Congrats Mary Beth and kudos to Randy for supporting her against the wishes of Neptune’s Democratic Party.
Good to see Williams stay in though. Either his candidacy will be proved valid or invalid. THE VOTERS will get to decide, not party leaders
congratulations….mary beth and randy
BRAVO