By Elizabeth Wulfhorst
FAIR HAVEN – It was a Republican sweep in Fair Haven as Mayor Josh Halpern held his seat and challengers Kristen Hoey and Andrew LaBarbera upset incumbent Democrats Meghan Chrisner-Keefe and Michael McCue for borough council.
While Democrat candidate for mayor Christopher Rodriguez lost his bid for the top spot, he will remain on borough council until his term expires in 2023. He said it’s too soon to talk about his plans for next year.
“I try to keep it all in perspective,” Rodriguez said, noting it is a volunteer position. “It’s not what we hoped for. Very much a bummer, but, you know, we will soldier on.”
Meanwhile, a day after the election, Halpern reflected on the win. “We’re so excited about last night’s results,” he said. “We believe our vision for Fair Haven strongly connected with our residents, and we’re so appreciative of the opportunity to represent them from the dais.”
The Fair Haven governing body consists of a mayor and six council members, all of whom are elected at-large during the November general election. Fair Haven is one of 218 municipalities in New Jersey to use the borough form of municipal government, the most common in the state. Halpern’s term will run for four years; he became mayor in October 2021 when then-Mayor Benjamin Lucarelli abruptly resigned. Council members are elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. In 2023, in addition to Rodriguez, Democrat Laline Neff’s term will expire. Republicans Tracy Cole and Betsy Koch were elected in 2021 and their terms expire in 2024.
Chrisner-Keefe did not seem to be deterred at a watch party Nov. 8, even though the results weren’t in her favor. “Nobody’s getting rid of me anytime soon,” she said to laughs from the crowd gathered to await the election outcome. “I still have plenty of volunteer left in me.”
When Hoey and LaBarbera take office in January, two-thirds of the council will be Republican, something that did not overly concern Rodriguez.
While he said he doesn’t know Hoey and LaBarbera well, “they seem like good neighbors and good people.” He added he has “no reservations” about working with them.
“Anyone who’s going to put their hat in the ring and who has the passion and the energy and the skill set” will get the job done, he said. “That’s the way the town has always worked. And I expect that to be the case going forward.”
Halpern was effusive in his praise for all the candidates. “I want to thank Meg Chrisner-Keefe and Mike McCue for their time and commitment to Fair Haven. I look forward to continuing to work with Chris Rodriguez on council. And also, you know, I’m excited to welcome Kristen Hoey and Drew LaBarbera to the team.”
Both Halpern and Rodriguez spoke about the many projects on tap for Fair Haven.
Rodriguez noted there are “tons and tons of things to do… Just normal, run-of-the-mill, run the town types of things and then also bigger… decisions to make as well.”
“There are so many good things going on in town and, you know, I think the new slate, the winners, will do a great job for the town,” he said.
The borough form of government is a “weak mayor/strong council” government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.
“It’s my absolute honor to continue to serve as Fair Haven’s mayor for the next four years,” Halpern said. “I love this town and this job.”
“Now it’s just time to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.”
All election results are unofficial until certified by the Monmouth County Clerk.
The article originally appeared in the November 10 – 16, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
