By Liz Sheehan
SEA BRIGHT-The Borough Council election on Nov. 8 might bring a history-making event to the town: the first time a husband and wife have served as members of the governing body at the same time.
Linda Lamia, whose husband John, a Republican, has been on the council since 2014, is running as one of the two Independent candidates competing with two Republicans, incumbent Brian Kelly and newcomer Jennifer Walsh, for two three-year council terms on Nov. 8.
Kelly, 48, the president of Sea Bright Solar, has lived in the town for 16 years and been a councilman for 11 years. He was a strong supporter of the $5.7 million bond issue approved by a large majority in a referendum last month to pay for the town’s share of the $13 million project to replace the firehouse, police headquarters and library which were lost in Super Storm Sandy, and the existing Borough Hall. He joined with fellow Republican Peggy Bills, who will not run in this election, and Democratic council members Charles Rooney III and Marc Leckstein, to gain support for the bond issue, going door-to-door to ask for votes. The bond issue had been blocked after being approved by the council, by a petition that required it be put on the ballot.
Last week, Kelly cited other projects that the borough will be working on, including the downtown streetscape project that is scheduled to begin in November and flood controls measures.
“I want the town to be as resistant to storms as possible,” he said. “I just want to rebuild the town as substantially and cost-effectively as possible.”
Walsh, 34, an engineering manager at Medtronic, Eatontown, has been a borough resident for 11 years. In a statement in response to questions on why she is running for the council she said she looks forward to being a partner with Kelly “to ensure sustainable redevelopment and fiscal stability for the taxpayers.”
She said that she has been actively involved in the town’s recovery since Sandy and was appointed by Mayor Dina Long and the council to serve on the Sea Bright Consolidation Committee.
Walsh said her 12 years of experience in business development, project management, engineering, and finance and operations management give her the skills for fiscal responsibility and communications.
Lamia, 60, an emergency room nurse, who has been a nurse for 40 years, and her husband have been full-time residents of the town since 2006.
Lamia stressed the importance of communication by the governing body in her response to why she is running for the council. “Best decisions are made when the facts have been considered,” she said. “Open and honest communication is the right of constituents who work hard to pay the taxes that permit our government to function.”
She said she would like to “enhance government transparency, communication and budget management.”
Lamia said her background in nursing has given her experience that could “bring good things” to the town, as she has learned to listen.
Sustainability is her special interest, she said.
Kevin Birdsall, 45, a computer programmer and developer, is running as under the banner of Sea Bright Independent. He said, “I love this town and I want to see the town stay as it is…I don’t want it to change into a sleepy little hamlet.”
He cited the proposed noise ordinance, which would limit noise levels after 10 p.m. as one of the things he doesn’t want to see in the borough. “It’s always been a fun shore town,” Birdsall said.
“No one wants to be locked up,” he said.
He said he supported the rebuilding of the facilities lost to Super Storm Sandy. The town has to come back by building stronger and higher, said Birdsall, who has lived in the borough since 2012.
