Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long has confirmed to the Two River Times that she is filing to run for re-election as mayor.
Long, 45, who is finishing her first term as mayor, will be running as an Independent. Long was elected as a Democrat, but changed her affiliation last year.
Both the GOP and Democratic organizations have stated that they will not field opponents against Long.
Long was first elected to the Borough Council in 2003 and re-elected to a second term in 2006. She resigned from the council in 2011 when she was elected mayor.
Ten months into her first term as mayor, Hurricane Sandy devastated the sleepy beach town. Like many Sandy victims, her home was washed away in the storm.
In a statement provided first to the Two River Times, Long says she is announcing her filing now so as to “quell any speculation and make my intentions clear early on.”
In the statement, Long adds she is “hopeful the voters of Sea Bright will give me the opportunity to see through our rebuilding from Sandy, the recovery of our municipal finances and the economic revitalization of our downtown.” With regards to the rebuilding of municipal facilities, Long said “we haven’t even put a shovel in the ground yet.”
By law, Long needs only 8 signatures to file for election. In addition to her and her husband of 20 years, her petition includes the signatures of Republican councilmen Jack Keeler and John Lamia and Democrat councilman Charlie Rooney.
Sea Bright has a population of approximately 1,400, and is governed by the Borough form of government. There is a 6 member council, with the mayor voting only to break a tie. The council is split with 4 Republicans and 2 Democrats. A borough administrator oversees the daily business.
The Sea Bright mayor is an uncompensated position. Long, who has a journalism degree from Rutgers and a master’s degree from The New School, is an
assistant professor of English at Brookdale Community College.
— By Jeremy Baratta
