Reid to Battle Barrella Again, Rizzo Running for Re-election in Point Pleasant Beach

Stephen Reid is hoping the second time is the charm.

And Frank Rizzo is hoping he's still charming.

For the second year in a row, Reid, of the Point Pleasant Beach Regular Republican Club, is facing off with Mayor Vincent R. Barrella.

Barrella, a registered Republican, said on Wednesday morning that he is leaning towards running as an Independent, as he did last year, rather than as a Republican. He had already said he is running without seeking the endorsement of the local Republican club.

William Mayer and Andy Cortes are running on the Regular Republican ticket for Borough Council for the first time.

They are running for two, three-year seats now held by Republican Sean Hennessy, who has said he is not running, and Democrat Frank Rizzo, who said on Wednesday that he is running for re-election.

Mayer, an attorney and partner with the Teaneck law firm of DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick and Cole, is Point Pleasant Beach's bond counsel. He said on Wednesday he will resign as bond counsel if he is elected.

"I would have to, it would be a conflict of interest," he said.

So why he is running when he's already the municipal bond counsel and a partner with a prestigious law firm?

"I think I can help, it's a way to give back to the community," he said.

Michael DiCicco, president of the Point Pleasant Beach Democratic Club, said he expects Democratic candidates to file on Friday, before the Monday deadline to submit nominating petitions.

He declined to say who the candidates will be for mayor and for Hennessy's council seat.

The incumbent mayor, a registered Republican running on the Independent ticket, beat Reid by 110 votes, Democrat John Dixon by 468 votes and a recall effort by 172 votes.

There are 3,505 registered voters, as of last October, in the borough that has approximately 5,400 residents, according to Borough Clerk Maryann Ellsworth.

Had there been no recall effort, there would have been no mayoral race last year since Barrella was only partly through his four-year term which expires at the end of this year.

Hennessy has said he is not running for re-election, having said that he wants to spend more time with his young family and he was not encouraged when the recall failed.

“This year, we have a fantastic team of candidates who look forward to gaining the support of all Point Pleasant Beach voters,” said Frank Carey, the chairman of the Republican Organization’s Screening Committee.  “I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the screening committee process.”

The screening committee solicited resumes from interested candidates and held interviews before making a final recommendation to the general membership at the organization’s March 24 meeting. 

"All three are longtime Point Pleasant Beach residents and share a common commitment to the community," according to a prepared statement.

Reid is a partner in the firm of Capital Public Affairs in Princeton. He is a Point Pleasant Beach native and lives on New Jersey Avenue with his wife, Jacqui, and his daughter, Evangeline.

Mayer lives on Cedar Avenue with his wife, Denise, and three children, Reese, Evan and Brett.

Cortes graduated from Point Pleasant Beach High School in 1976. He has worked for Comcast Cable for 34 years and lives with his fiancée, Colleen, and her daughter, Kelsey, and son, Frank, on Washington Avenue. Andy has three daughters, Dorothy, Loren and Tiffany.

“I am excited about campaigning for office with Bill and Andy," Reid said. "All of us have a common belief in Point Pleasant Beach, in our great schools, our wonderful community businesses, and, most of all, the people that make this a special place. We are seeking election this year to ensure a bright future for our town, while continuing the traditions that have made this town one which so many cherish.”