By Sunayana Prabhu
RED BANK – Members of the Red Bank’s Ready team that swept the 2023 elections are returning to the ballot in November, as the borough continues with its new nonpartisan, council-manager form of government.
Three sitting councilmembers – Ben Forest, Laura Jannone and Kristina Bonatakis – are seeking re-election. They are joined by Ben Yuro, a first-time candidate, who is running to fill the seat held by council member David Cassidy, who announced he will not seek another term. According to the borough clerk’s office, so far, no other candidates have filed petitions challenging the slate. However, candidates do have until Aug. 21 to file petitions to run in the November election.
All three incumbents began their terms following Red Bank’s first-ever nonpartisan election in 2023. In a statement April 29, they jointly addressed their progress under the new structure.
“We’ve gotten a lot done,” Forest said in the release, noting the appointment of borough manager Jim Gant and new police chief Michael Frazee. “We’ve implemented a new form of government and made the necessary changes while all voices are heard.” Forest currently serves as the council liaison to the board of education and the parks and recreation committee.
“We make the necessary decisions, even when it’s not possible to please everyone. I’m proud of our record,” said Forest.
Jannone, a retired nursing professor and former public health professional, said she hopes to continue work on wellness and infrastructure. “I want to continue my work on the Mayor’s Wellness Campaign, DPW ad hoc committee, Animal Welfare, and Library Board,” she said, noting her health care experience is “valuable” when crafting borough policy. Bonatakis is a technology operations professional, a member of the borough’s planning board and liaison to
the historic preservation commission.
She said her time in office has strengthened her ability to serve.
“It’s incredible how much I’ve learned in office, and it is an honor to use that experience in a second term as we face new challenges head-on,” she said.
“Now more than ever, having municipal leaders that understand the entirety of the Red Bank community and our values is essential.”
Yuro, a finance and accounting professional and current member of the borough’s zoning board, is looking to bring that expertise to the council.
“My work as a financial professional has honed my ability to analyze information efficiently, work against tight deadlines and be held accountable,” Yuro said in the statement. “These are skills I believe are essential for effective local governance and I look forward to utilizing them to greater serve my community.”
Cassidy, who was elected in 2023, praised his colleagues and said the decision to step aside was not easy but made with confidence in the current team.
“I have served as part of a talented and dedicated group, and while I will not be running again, I will continue to serve the community in other capacities,” he said in the statement. “There is more to be done, and I know my colleagues in the Red Bank’s Ready slate will continue to deliver.”
Red Bank officially transitioned to a council-manager form of government in July 2023, replacing the mayor-council system that had been in place since 1908. Residents overwhelmingly voted for this change in 2022 following the recommendation from a charter study commission. Under the Faulkner Act governing municipalities, the current borough council consists of a mayor and six council members.
Led by current Mayor Billy Portman, the Red Bank’s Ready slate won the borough’s first-ever nonpartisan elections with an overwhelming majority in 2023. Council member Kate Triggiano was unanimously appointed deputy mayor at the inaugural meeting July 6, 2023. To establish a staggered election cycle, council members drew a lottery during the meeting. Triggiano and council member Nancy Facey-Blackwood were assigned four-year terms ending in 2027, while Forest, Jannone, Bonatakis and Cassidy received two-year terms ending in 2025.
The article originally appeared in the May 8 – 14, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
