By Allison Perrine
RUMSON – Longtime Rumsonite Sarah Pomphrey was chosen to fill the vacant seat on the borough council this week.
Her nomination came after former council member Mark Rubin resigned Feb. 1 to “enjoy some free time” after serving 15 years on the dais. Pomphrey was one of three conservative nominees for the position made by the Rumson Republican Committee, since the individual would replace Rubin, a Republican, on the all-GOP dais. The mayor and council settled on Pomphrey during the Feb. 16 meeting. Her term expires Dec. 31 but she can run for the position in the Primary Election in June and again in the General Election in November.
“I really am truly flattered and honored to be chosen to be a part of the Rumson council and to serve among your group of such dedicated and talented individuals altogether,” said Pomphrey during the meeting. “I’ll look forward to working with you and keep the community improving and protecting and preserving the integrity of Rumson which is a great town to be a part of.”
Pomphrey has lived in Rumson for over 32 years. She married her husband at the age of 19 at the Rumson Presbyterian Church. At the time she was living on a farm in Colts Neck but the two soon relocated to Shrewsbury and then Rumson where they live today. The Pomphrey family has been around Rumson since 1906 and was honored with the dedication of Pomphrey Pond in 2011, she said.
Her nomination to run for council came “out of the blue,” she said. She at first was unsure if she wanted to take on the job but, after speaking with her family, especially her daughter, she was reminded that people shouldn’t complain about things unless they’re involved. And while she’s no complainer, she said, she decided step up to the challenge.
“The people on the council are very dedicated. Everybody’s talented in their own (way),” she said, adding that as someone who takes control when things are in need of fixing, she can make a positive contribution to the borough. She’s already been doing so in a different capacity as a volunteer.
While her children were young, Pomphrey was involved with the PTA. She also helped make the borough’s annual Christmas tree lighting a much more popular activity by forming a committee of volunteers and coming up with ideas to make it a grander event. She has also had a hand in making the town’s Memorial Day Parade a “nice, dignified event.”
“I’m very patriotic. I don’t like to talk about politics but I’m very patriotic,” she said, and added that while she certainly leans more conservative, she considers herself to be very open and a people person.
That’s part of what makes her career as a real estate agent fulfilling. As a social, people person, Pomphrey has enjoyed selling real estate in Rumson and surrounding areas for 28 years with Coldwell Banker. She appreciates meeting people from inside and outside the Rumson area and finding out what it is about the town that they are drawn to.
“I feel good about being able to do that – show them the ins and the outs and just explain some of the history,” she said.
In her spare time, the she enjoys going for walks around town, frequenting the gym three days a week and, prior to the pandemic, taking trips to South Carolina and Florida. She also enjoys spending time with her loved ones, a group that will soon expand once again as she and her husband welcome their fourth grandchild in the next few weeks.
“I’m very passionate about Rumson and I just think it’s a great town to be in,” she said. She hopes to help improve on projects that must be done in the borough while keeping in mind the desire to “preserve what Rumson is and why everybody comes here.”
Mayor Joseph Hemphill shared his excitement at having Pomphrey join the council. “We look forward to working with her for many years and making the decisions that will keep Rumson the way Rumson should be and the way we want it to be.”
This article was originally published in the Feb. 18-24, 2021 edition of The Two River Times.
