Residents turn out to hear seven candidates
By DONNA WEAVER
Staff Writer, 609-978-2015
Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP - Seven candidates sought to win voters in front of a standing-room-only crowd Tuesday night in the municipal courtroom. Three seats on the Board of Commissioners are up for grabs May 13. The three incumbents and four newcomers have been putting up signs and knocking on doors every weekend.Tuesday evening the candidates answered questions pertaining to local issues. The questions were prepared by the Long Beach Township Taxpayers Association. "I have put my heart and soul in to this town," said incumbent Commissioner Robert Palmer. "I think with the expertise of Robert Fleck and Sharon Stefanoni we can take this town where it needs to go." The three are running as a team.Only one of the four newcomers to the election said he had attended a Board of Commissioners meeting in the last 12 months. That was Joe Mancini, who said he attended six meetings, watched many on television and read minutes online.
Mancini, son of longtime Mayor Jim Mancini, is trying again for a seat on the board after losing in 2004, when, six months after the death of his father, he received the least amount of votes. When asked of his experience with local government, Mancini got a laugh from the crowd when he answered: "Can I count the 30-plus years I listened to my father?"Mancini, who is the owner of Mancini Custom Homes and Realty Company in the township's Beach Haven Terrace section, said he was looking to generate a more business-friendly environment, but not without making the police do the same. "I think we need to have a more user-friendly police force," he said. "We need to remind everyone to be calmer and remember this is a resort area, and we need to kick back."Cornelius O'Regan joked with the crowd that because of his position with the Ocean County Utilities Authority, he'll be saving them money since he is already in the state pension and benefits system. Incumbent Commissioner Ralph Bayard told the packed room it would be a critical year for the township. "We have two expiring contracts coming up, the PBA and Teamsters, and it would be good to have a governing body with experience going into negotiations," Bayard said. Bayard's campaign manager Bill Knarre facilitated the event Tuesday night, but said afterwards that he and the members of the Taxpayers Association saw no conflict.Candidate Sharon Stefanoni said she believed she has the necessary experience to tackle upcoming issues. Stefanoni read from a long list of organizations she is involved in on Long Beach Island. She said her most important role is organizing the island's holiday tour of homes. The mother of two said she will have time to devote to the position since she does not work outside of her home, "except for all the things that I volunteer to do."Incumbent Mayor DiAnne Gove told the crowd that her roots are in Long Beach Township."I've seen every mood of this island, good and bad," she said.Gove, a retired Southern Regional High School teacher, said she left her career to devote more time to her ailing mother and the business of the township. Since then she has organized mayor's meetings, a senior citizen advisory committee, increased shared services and the number of surfing beaches, she said. "My mother, who is my biggest supporter, told me you must make the decision that is best for the people," Gove said through tears as she broke down due to her mother's worsening condition.All seven candidates said they supported bringing the beach replenishment project to the township.
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