Red Bank: New Year Brings New Mayor - And New Elections In May

RED BANK, NJ — Wednesday's reorganization meeting of the Borough Council will formally seat a new mayor, Billy Portman, and Councilmembers Angela Mirandi and John Jackson, elected in November.

But it will also usher in a year of transition to a nonpartisan form of government, with all mayor and council positions up for election in May.

So Portman's vision for this diverse, politically engaged and artistic community has an added dimension, he observed in a recent interview.

But he said he is looking forward to the role, even as the town prepares for an election in a matter of months.

"I'm very excited to make a difference," Portman said - even in the "little things" that affect residents' quality of life in the town. (Read Portman's candidate profile here.)

The reorganization meeting is at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Voters in November overwhelmingly chose to accept the recommendation of the Charter Study Commission to establish a nonpartisan form of government, under a Council-Manager form, with seven at-large council members, including a directly elected mayor.

Portman was an early supporter of that change when, as a newcomer to borough politics, he challenged the mayoral candidate supported by the Democratic organization in town, Michael Ballard, who will be serving with Portman as a councilmember. Ballard opposed the move to nonpartisan government.

Mirandi was re-elected to her position on the council. Jackson will fill the spot the now held by Kathleen Horgan, who chose not to run for re-election after serving since 2007. Council President Kate Triggiano, a Portman supporter, is now the Democratic Committee chairperson in the borough. Councilman Ed Zipprich, the ousted Democratic leader, and Councilwoman Jacqueline Sturdivant, along with Ballard, make up the rest of the current Borough Council. Zipprich, Ballard and Sturdivant are political allies.

And Portman replaces the iconic Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna, who officiated at his last council meeting Dec. 14. Menna and Horgan were both honored with proclamations by the council, recognizing their service.

Menna had not been supported by then-Democratic leader Zipprich in the Democratic mayoral primary in June, prompting him to choose not to seek re-election. Horgan then also decided not to seek re-election. The split also prompted the run by Portman, who felt Menna should have been supported by the regular party.

Menna was first elected to the council in 1989 and has served as mayor since 2007.

His leadership of the council - including through the pandemic, his role as chaplain of the Red Bank Fire Department, and his decades of service in years that saw growth in the borough were all cited in the proclamation, read by Triggiano Dec. 14.

"I have wonderful, warm memories of so many people I served with, " Menna said at that last meeting.

His service was "an extraordinary part of my life," he said, adding that however he may have disagreed with some he still remained friends. And he noted the "commitment to serve" of all of those "on the dais."

He reflected on the long number of years he served. "But somehow it took to me - and I took to it."

Now as Portman looks ahead, he has nothing but praise for his predecessor.

"He has institutional knowledge that is invaluable," Portman said.

He said Menna has assured him that he can call on him anytime and use him as a resource - as he already has, Portman added.

"He has been nothing but a gentleman," Portman said of Menna.

And he also had warm words for Horgan: From the moment he met her, he said they "hit it off." "My family got to meet her and we all adore her," Portman said in an interview on Monday.

Horgan was also honored with a proclamation read by Menna at the Dec. 14 meeting, honoring, among many other things, her "tireless commitment" to serve and her advocacy of social justice. Horgan will continue to serve the borough on the Library Foundation and the Red Bank Educational Foundation, she said.

Horgan thanked many people, especially noting the borough employees, such as Police Chief and Interim Manager Darren McConnell, among many others, who make the borough work every day.

As Portman prepares for the role of mayor, he said that the borough has important issues before it:

• The Master Plan is being updated and he said he understands the Planning Board will set up more informational sessions for residents.
• Parks improvements are a big priority for him, he said
• The short-term rental ordinance needs to be worked out, and he said he is "looking for balance," on the issue. (The Dec. 14 meeting saw both the council members and public weighing in on the proposal that is an emotional issue in town. Go to the borough Facebook site to see the meeting in full.)
• He also said the borough should do all it can to access federal funds to help with housing affordability in town.