Election 2023: Nancy Facey-Blackwood, Candidate For Red Bank Council

RED BANK, NJ — Voters in Red Bank go to the polls May 9 for the first-ever nonpartisan election for Mayor and Borough Council.

The mayor and council positions are all up for election in May as part of the borough's charter change to a nonpartisan Council/Manager form of government, approved by a wide margin of residents in last November's election. The new government will be seated in July.

There are 13 council candidates and two candidates running for mayor. There is a field of two teams, running as Red Bank's Ready and Red Bank Together, and one independent candidate, running under the designation Dedicated to Representing Red Bank.

Voters may vote for up to six candidates for council and up to one candidate for mayor.

Leading up to the election, profiles of all candidates who responded to a Patch questionnaire will be published. Responses were requested to be returned by April 16, and these profiles reflect issues as of that date. Responses received later than that will have the date cited.

Candidates were asked about their background and experience and their positions on two big issues in the borough - cannabis business regulation and short-term rentals, as well as their vision for the borough.

Today, candidate Nancy Facey-Blackwood of the Red Bank's Ready team is featured.

Facey-Blackwood was the chairperson of the Charter Study Commission that recommended the change in the borough form of government. She is also an environmental advocate, serving on the Red Bank Environmental Commission.

Candidates provided their own answers to the following questions, presented here with editing for style only:

• Name: Nancy Facey-Blackwood
• Address: 34 Chestnut St., Red Bank
• Position sought: Borough Council
• Are you an incumbent or have you been involved in other positions in borough or schools government?: I have served on the Red Bank Environmental Commission since 2017. In 2022, I served on the Charter Study Commission as chair to study the form of government for Red Bank that voters overwhelmingly approved.
• Campaign website: www.redbanksready.com
• Background: I was born in New York and spent my formative years growing up on the island of Jamaica where my family is from. This foundation enabled me to learn how to easily reach across cultures and connect with people of diverse backgrounds. I have a BA in Economics and found I excelled in computer programming and systems design, which translated into a career in telecommunications working with Verizon, AT&T then consulting to other telecommunications companies. I left to devote more time to my mother who lived with us and my children. We lived in Middletown prior to moving to Red Bank around December 2015. I live with my husband Phil, two young adult children and our dog Scout.

1. Why are you seeking office or seeking re-election? Is there a particular issue or concern that you want to see improved in Red Bank that sparks your desire to govern?

I was not intending to run for office after serving on the Charter Study Commission and seeing the referendum passed. While serving on the commission, I saw the reversal of the business administrator ordinance, weakening the powers the business administrator has in running the day-to-day operations of the town and giving authority to council. That does not help create an effective and efficient government.

After the voters overwhelmingly approved the referendum to change our form of government, I saw the disorganized manner in which ordinances and resolutions were introduced to both Borough Council and the public. The comment I heard from the dais from council members was, “we can amend it later. correct?” as they voted "Yes," instead of having a thorough review, discussion and passing it at a later time. The residents of Red Bank deserve better.

As a telecommunications systems engineer I have a logical approach to analysis and problem solving. I listen to understand the issues and concerns and find solutions. I have decades of experience working collaboratively, knowing everyone brings something different to the table.

My experiences working on both the Environmental Commission and the Charter Study Commission provide me with a breadth of knowledge about borough departments, their needs and also the guidance the borough needs to excel.

I am policy-focused, a tireless researcher, and a fierce advocate for the environment, my community, and for a transparent and efficient government.

Red Bank is a unique, diverse, multi-generational town and needs a form of government that will allow it to be effectively managed to benefit all residents who have chosen Red Bank as their home. I can help do that for Red Bank.

2. The short-term rental ordinance recently adopted by the Borough Council brought out lots of opinion from the public, pro and con. What is your position on the adopted ordinance? If you are an incumbent, why did you vote for or against it?

When considering complex issues, such as a short-term rental ordinance, it is necessary to have a collaborative process with those impacted to develop a solution that works for all. That did not happen. When the ordinance was first introduced, I asked the council member who introduced said ordinance to have a forum where the issue is worked on together. The response I received was "not everyone gets what they want."

This ordinance is poorly written, its process is not clear. This ordinance created controversy that was unnecessary. The people were heard and not listened to. I am in favor of regulation. Allowing short-term rentals in owner-occupied housing in all areas of town will help to keep families in their home in addition to helping others who need a place to stay for work and visits.

3. Another issue facing the borough is how cannabis sales or production is regulated. The recent ordinances being considered provide more regulation, but do you feel they address concerns both of the public and the businesses seeking approval?

The Community Development Director requested clarity on the areas in which cannabis was allowed. Again, another surprise ordinance with significant changes and the process for cannabis review is replicating what is done at the state level. If the focus was on what is the problem that needs to be solved and a preparation of a presentation to council and the public, I believe a better solution would have been reached.

The proposed ordinance pushes retail sales of cannabis mostly on the west side of town. I support a 1,000-foot distance from schools and a limit of distances between similar stores. The challenge is the ordinance has been in place for over a year, resolutions were granted for locations for proposed businesses to the state which has now changed, leaving the borough open to potential litigation. The cannabis review board ordinance needs a flowchart so they can see where they are duplicating a process. This just sows discord between council, the public and businesses.

Other candidates in the May 9 election

Here is the ballot lineup for mayor and council, chosen in a random drawing last month.

Mayor:

• First position, Billy Portman, Red Bank's Ready
• Second position, Tim Hogan, Red Bank Together

Council:

• First position, Red Bank Together
• Second position, Suzanne "Sue" Viscomi (Dedicated to Representing Red Bank)
• Third position, Red Bank's Ready

Click on the links below to read more about the candidates from past stories. Click on individual names that are highlighted to read their candidate profiles, as they are published prior to the election:

Red Bank Together: Leading the team is mayoral candidate Tim Hogan, Riverview Medical Center president, along with incumbent Borough Council candidates Michael Ballard, Jacqueline Sturdivant and John Jackson. Rounding out the team is Sean Murphy, a Red Bank Zoning Board member; Linda Hill, and Erin Fleming.

Suzanne Viscomi: Viscomi, a Red Bank school board member, is running independently, with the designation Dedicated to Representing Red Bank.

Red Bank's Ready: Mayor Billy Portman for mayor leads the team. Running for council seats are current Councilmember Kate Triggiano; Ben Forest of the Red Bank school board; former Charter Study Commission Chairperson Nancy Facey-Blackwood; and David Cassidy, Laura Jannone, and Kristina Bonatakis.