Photo and story by John Burton
RED BANK–It was a traditional clash of parties and perspectives as the Democratic candidates went face-to-face with Republican challengers for the 19th annual Candidates Night.
For the approximately 97 mostly community members who attended last Thursday’s annual West Side Community Group-sponsored question-and-answer forum, held at the River Street Commons senior housing complex, they were able to see the four candidates lay out their visions for the borough. And as has been the case for much of those two decades, the incumbent Democrat – as the party has retained majority of the council for more than that period – Michael DuPont, stressed the administration’s accomplishments over the years. “But that being said,” DuPont offered in his opening comments last Thursday,
“The job’s not done yet,” and he is seeking another three-year term to continue to advance the strides that have been made.
“I don’t think Red Bank does a good job in attracting new families,” maintained Michael Whelan, one of the two Republicans seeking one of the two seats available on the six-member council, who said he hoped to eventually raise a family here, too.
“When you’re in power for 25 years it breeds complacency,” Whelan said, aiming his barb at the Democrats’ tenure.
Democrats have held control of the council – for a number of those years, an exclusive control – and of the mayor’s office for 25 years.
But Republicans have developed some momentum over the last two years, defeating two incumbent Democrats taking those two seats and are now within striking distance of possibly taking control of the council majority.
questions a recent Candidates Night.

While in the political wilderness, the local GOP has continued to charge Democrats are too quick to allow for overdevelopment at the cost of residential neighborhoods and they point to difficulties with existing infrastructure and they contend taxes are too high. Democrats pointed to the accomplished growth; the redevelopment of the commercial district and the improved quality of life that has taken the borough from “Dead Bank” to the “hippest town” in New Jersey and national publications touting it as one of the most desirable small towns in the country.
DuPont, a Red Bank lawyer, is completing his third full term. His running mate is Michael Ballard, a local Board of Education member, who was something of an 11th hour replacement, when veteran Councilman Arthur V. Murphy III resigned and dropped out of the race in August.
Ballard, a financial analyst, has long been active with the borough Parks and Recreation Committee, has coached locally and helped form the Two River Little League, which includes Red Bank. “My advocacy has been primarily about the children of Red Bank,” he told the audience. Ballard also noted his role in opening up Count Basie Park for borough youth, after officials had begun locking the gates to the sports fields after organized activities finished. “I said it was wrong to have a Red Bank resident removed from that park.”
Whelan, a commercial insurance agent, is running with Mark Taylor, a lawyer, a first run for office for both men. “I want to continue to build Red Bank,” Taylor said, charging that under the current administration the borough has become too expensive for many people. Taylor told of a couple who have sold their borough home after 47 years and are moving to Little Silver. “That’s nuts,” he said.
DuPont over the course of the evening Q-and-A session, pointed to a municipal budget with a tax rate that remained flat this year; the privatization of trash collection, which, the councilman said amounted to a $400,000 saving for the borough’s taxpayers; the continuing reduction of the long-term debt service and the lowering of the municipal employee health insurance costs – another major saving. All of which, he said, were the result of the council’s experience and dedication. “We look to save wherever we can,” DuPont said.
“Unfortunately for Red Bank,” Taylor charged, “Mr. DuPont’s experience hasn’t gotten us very far,” with Taylor stressing the number of tax increases that have occurred since DuPont has been on council. “He paints a rosy picture but let’s call a spade a spade.”
Politics is politics and governance is governance but “What I don’t understand is the lack of decorum,” during the campaign from his opponents, DuPont countered. “We in Red Bank deserve better.”
During the evening the candidates fielded questions about taxes, quality of life issues like code enforcement and such contentious flashpoints as the discussions over a recreation area for the borough’s west side on the site designated as a nature preserve and proposals for the Sandy-damaged clay tennis courts at the borough’s Marine Park; the rate of development and its impact on traffic; and pedestrian and cyclist safety given that traffic.
“It’s a cool little town,” Whelan offered, referring to the marketing tagline that’s been used to promote the community, “and we’re becoming a big, expensive town,” becoming increasingly unaffordable for many.
Tom Labetti, an Elm Place resident for 15 years, who’s attended the forums in past years, after wards thought the candidates faired rather well. “I think this year is the strongest group of candidates,” he’s seen. And one thing that seemed clear to him is “They all seem to care about Red Bank,” he said, though acknowledging “They did duck the questions a few times.”
Amy Goldsmith, West Side Community Group president, said this year’s crowd was one of the largest in the nearly two decades the group has organized it, especially for a non-mayoral race and given the rainy, inclement weather.
The West Side Community Group is a grassroots organization, which advocates for west side residents and businesses.
