Who Filed For Belmar Mayor, Council In 2022?

BELMAR, NJ - Two seats are up for grabs on the Belmar Council this year, plus a mayoral spot, according to the municipal clerk's office. Two candidates are seeking the mayor’s position, while four others are eyeing the council seats.

Incumbent mayor Mark Walsifer and current councilmember James McCracken are vying to keep their seats for another term. Councilmember Tom Carvelli will not be seeking reelection this year. Read more: Belmar Councilman Won't Seek Reelection

Who is running for mayor?

Walsifer has lived in Belmar since 1967 and is a retired Borough of Belmar police officer. He retired after 25 years of service as detective sergeant, according to his municipal profile. Walsifer was elected to the Belmar Board of Education and served for 17 years. He was elected to the Belmar Council in 2016 and was elected mayor two years later. He’s a member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh and the Belmar Fishing Club.

McCracken previously served on the Fredon Township Committee for over seven years and served as deputy mayor and mayor during his time there. He’s a former rotarian, has been involved in various chambers of commerce and has been a Belmar resident for over 26 years. He currently serves on the board of trustees of the Belmar Fishing Club.

2021 Belmar Council candidate Gerald Buccafusco will be trying his luck again in local politics in 2022, this time seeking the mayor’s position.

Buccafusco is a licensed attorney and served in the New Jersey judiciary for over 23 years. He's been a Belmar summer resident for 60 years and full-time resident for seven. The candidate argues for a "more thoughtful approach to new development" and prevention of administrative overreach of eminent domain.

Last year wasn't Buccafusco's first try for a seat on the council, either. In 2020, Buccafusco also attempted to unseat Democrat councilman Thomas Brennan.

"I'm proud to run on the Democratic ticket for mayor," said Buccafusco. "With the constant increases in taxes and other expenses that this Administration has pushed onto Belmar taxpayers, I believe my experience and commitment will help us move Belmar in a more positive direction."

Who is running for Belmar Council?

Alongside incumbent McCracken, seeking a spot on the Belmar Council is Katrina Clapsis, Mark Levis and Maria Rondinaro.

Clapsis is a retired hairdresser and a self-proclaimed lifelong Monmouth County resident. She's lived in Belmar full-time since 2011 and has owned property in the borough since 2002. Alongside being an active town hall meeting regular, Clapsis is a member of the Belmar Better Angels, the Belmar COVID-19 Friendship Force and the director of St. Paul's Ocean Grove Church food pantry.

Rondinaro is a licensed clinical social worker, small business owner and community volunteer, having served as a Belmar Community Policing Block Captain. She also fundraises for the Friends of Belmar Library, volunteers for the Rescue Ridge Animal Shelter and is an active member of the Belmar Elementary PTO, according to a release.

She has also been noted for her work helping Belmar seniors find COVID-19 vaccination appointments and transportation, the release said.

"Unfortunately, this administration has done a poor job of communicating and working with the community. I'm out there every day, with different local groups, and they know that with me they have a leader who will listen," said Rondinaro.

Levis is a Marine engineer and former lieutenant in the Navy Reserve. He also served as a Belmar councilmember in 2018. He also served as chairman of the Belmar Harbor Commission from 2015 to 2018.

During his time on council, he coordinated a pilot program with Rutgers University to test drones to assist lifeguards with water rescues, spearheaded the creation of the Belmar Parks Commission and "uncovered numerous failures within the sanitary sewer system," the release said.

"There's so much that needs to be accomplished in Belmar, but this Administration just isn't moving the needle," said Levis. "I've proven that I know how to get things done and so I'm running this time to get to work for our community, I know we can do better."

The deadline to file for candidacy in New Jersey was April 4.

Stay tuned with Patch for more updates regarding the upcoming election.

Are you running for local office in 2022? Contact Nicole Rosenthal at nicole.rosenthal@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

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