Red Bank Candidates Square Off Thursday

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y John Burton
RED BANK – Thursday night borough voters will have the chance, as they have for nearly two decades, to size up those seeking to govern and possibly decide which party will have the majority.
The West Side Community Group will again conduct its annual election season tradition, with its 19th Candidates Night.
The event, as has been the case for most of the 19 years, is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 1, from 7-9:30 p.m. at River Street Commons senior housing facility, 49 Catherine St., in the first floor community room.
The West Side Community Group is an informational and advocacy group geared to assist and inform residents and business on the west side.
This year’s election has two, three-year seats up for grabs among the six-seat borough council, the governing body for the 1.7-square-mile with an estimated population of about 13,000.
Democrats have held the majority for the last 25 years, with a number of those years the party having exclusive control of the council as well as the mayor’s office. But in the last two years, the local GOP has made inroads, winning a seat each of those years – and defeating two incumbent Democrats who are lifelong residents of the borough’s west side, neighborhoods long considered Democratic strongholds. The current make up consists of 42 with Democrats in the majority.
Squaring off is incumbent Democrat Michael DuPont, who is seeking his fourth council term.
DuPont’s running mate is Michael Ballard. Ballard, who has been on the borough Board of Education for less than a year, was tapped by the borough Democratic committee to replace veteran incumbent Arthur V. Murphy. Murphy resigned in August following a flap that arose over a video secretly recorded showing Murphy disparaging a now-defunct borough business and its patrons.
Seeking to add Republican seats are Michael Whalen and Mark Taylor, who are making their first run for office.
“There is no other longstanding candidates night for municipal races except for ours,” said Amy Goldsmith, president of the West Side Community Group, of the annual event, with all four candidates confirmed for the forum.
“People should make informed decisions about how they’re going to vote because it has an impact on the town,” Goldsmith said.
The candidates will make opening and closing statements, with the remainder of the evening dedicated to questions and answers. Goldsmith, who will again be moderating the evening, said the questions won’t be screened prior, allowing the public to ask what it wishes. “I just go around the room,” allowing the audience to offer their questions, she said. “I don’t think anybody else allows for that kind of access.”
DuPont, 54, is a local lawyer, and said he is seeking another term to continue the work he and his Democratic colleagues have accomplished. DuPont pointed to a flat tax rate for the municipal budget; privatizing trash collection; and for the future he hoped to direct his focus on the long-discussed municipal parking garage and other initiatives. “I think with bold ideas and our experience it can become a reality,” he said.
Ballard, 52, a financial analyst, said he would like to join in DuPont’s vision, “I believe the Democrats over the years have done a good job moving Red Bank forward,” he said. “I’d like to be part of that team.”
Republican Michael Whelan sees it differently. “It’s a changing of the guard,” after a quarter-of-a-century that is needed, Whelan maintained.
Whelan, 23, is a commercial insurance agent, and said he’s running because “I know it can be better,” and hoping for a chance to infuse the council with “new blood.”
“They’re complacent,” he said of the incumbent Democrats.
Mark Taylor, 32, is an attorney and lifelong borough resident, and said he sees a chance to move Red Bank forward. “I just think the direction the town is going under the current administration is not sustainable,” he said. “We need new ideas.”
Ballard conceded he’s not looking forward to the Thursday event, acknowledging nervousness for his first debate. But the other three all recognized the importance of making themselves available to voters in this forum.
“I think it’s important because it allows voters to ask questions,” DuPont said.
And for the little known opponents, Whelan acknowledged, “It’s a huge, huge opportunity,” for them.
The ability to hear and ask unfiltered questions is vital, because, “It’s not just about whether taxes are up or down. It’s about what Red Bank will look like,” Goldsmith offered. “I know I’ve come to the candidates night and made decisions based upon the candidates.”