Adam Schneider

SCHNEIDER CITES A NEED FOR NEW IDEAS

It won’t have too much impact on the actual U.S. Senate primary results, but it will be interesting to watch how Democrats in Long Branch vote on June 3.  Long Branch’s two leading politicians, Rep. Frank Pallone and Mayor Adam Schneider, are on different sides of the Senate race: Pallone is backing Frank Lautenberg and Schneider endorsed Rob Andrews yesterday. There was a time when Pallone and Schneider were close personal friends and political allies, but in recent years their relationship has become quite contemptuous.

Long Branch, New Jersey – At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mayor Schneider and the City Council introduced a budget that will lower municipal property taxes for the first time in over 20 years.

The $38 million budget will result in a one-cent decrease in the municipal tax levy, from 94.3 cents per hundred dollars of assessed value to 93.3 cents per hundred dollars. This achievement is all the more remarkable given the tax increases most municipal governments are facing this year. Through a combination of prudent financial decision-making and an increase in $100 million worth of tax-ratable properties, the Mayor and City Council were able to build on the success of last year’s budget, which kept municipal property taxes flat, and were able to actually lower the property tax burden on the city’s residents.

“I am proud to announce that we are finally able to lower municipal property taxes here in Long Branch,� Mayor Adam Schneider stated. “City taxpayers are in need of property tax relief, and this budget proves that we are doing our part to provide that relief.�

Council President Anthony Giordano shared the Mayor’s sentiment, stating, “It’s really rewarding to know that all of the hard work we have put in to balance the budget and to revitalize the city’s economy is succeeding.�

Analysis of the city’s budget shows that this tax decrease was made possible mostly by the revitalization of the city’s beachfront. The added $1 million in tax revenue from an expanded tax base comes largely from the newly revitalized areas. “This tax cut is a powerful demonstration of the success of our vision for a rejuvenated Long Branch,� Council Vice President Mike DeStefano stated. “The revitalization of the beachfront has made this tax cut possible for homeowners across the city.�

The Mayor and the Council were able to achieve this tax cut through sound fiscal planning and the realization of their vision for a revitalized Long Branch. Further evidence of this is the city’s first-ever triple-A bond rating, which allows the city to borrow money for capital projects at the lowest possible rate�again, keeping the tax burden on the city’s residents to a minimum.

Councilman David Brown agreed, stressing the importance of stable taxes to keeping Long Branch an affordable place to live: “This is great news for all residents of Long Branch. Homeowners will directly pay less in taxes, while the city’s renters will see relief in the form of lower rent. Everyone who lives in the city benefits from this tax cut.�

Councilwoman Dr. Mary Jane Celli echoed Councilman Brown’s statement: “This tax cut is tangible evidence that the city government delivers results to the city’s residents. Long Branch residents will see benefits not only from lower property tax bills or lower rent, but also in the boost this will give to the local economy.� Councilman John Zambrano concurred by stating, “Lower property taxes means more business in Long Branch, which means more jobs for Long Branch residents. This budget is something everyone in Long Branch should be proud of.�

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A Picture of Progress
The Schneider Team proudly displays proof of Long Branch’s progress

Long Branch, New Jersey – Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, along with his running mates Councilwoman Dr. Mary Jane Celli and Councilmen David Brown, Michael DeStefano, Anthony Giordano and John Zambrano presented residents with proof of the city’s progress, launching an online photo gallery yesterday, revealing before and after shots of various locations throughout Long Branch.

The filing deadline for the May 9, 2006 Municipal Elections is March 16th.

Bayonne: Mayor Joseph Doria, a State Senator, is being challenged by attorney Vincent Militello, who ran for State Senator against Glenn Cunningham and L. Harvey Smith in the 2003 Democratic primary. Militello, who finished third, was viewed as the spoiler for the Hudson County Democratic Organization in that race -- which cost Doria his Assembly seat. Doria easily defeated former Mayor Richard Rutkowski in 2002, and incumbent Mayor Leonard Kiczek in 1998.

Belleville: Mayor Gerald Digori faces former Township Manager Raymond Kimble. Councilwoman Marie Strumolo Burke, the Democratic Municipal Chairman, is reportedly considering a bid for Mayor. Digori is also a Democrat; he defeated incumbent Angelina Paserchia, who was part of Richard Yanuzzi's then-powerful local GOP machine, in 2002.

Gloucester Township: Mayor Sandra Love is not seeking re-election. Love has served as Mayor since 1994, when she took office following the death of her sister-in-law, Ann Mullen.

Irvington: Mayor Wayne Smith was elected in 2002, defeating Assemblyman Craig Stanley and Councilwoman Sandra Harte after the incumbent, Sara Bost, was convicted on federal corruption charges. Harte is challenging Smith again this May.

Jackson: Jackson Township voted to change their form of government last November to a strong Mayor and a five-member Council elected At-Large elected in non-partisan elections. There are more than two dozen candidates in the mix, many of whom want to be Mayor. Unless a coalition emerges, there is a possibility of a wildly competitive contest this fall. Republicans won 3-2 control the town in 2005, but Councilman Joshua Reilly, saying he wanted to become independent of party bosses, switched from the GOP to Independent in January -- less than two months after winning re-election. The Mayor is Democrat Sean Giblin.

Long Branch: Mayor Adam Schneider is seeking re-election to a fifth term with the same council office slate that has held office with him since 1990. Schneider, a Democrat, has managed to surmount several failed efforts by Congressman Frank Pallone to unseat him, including a difficult election in 1994 when Pallone ran his brother against Schneider.

Manchester: Mayor Michael Fressola is seeking re-election and does not yet have an opponent.

Newark: All eyes are on Mayor Sharpe James, who has not yet announced whether he will seek re-election to a sixth term. Former City Councilman Cory Booker has not stopped running since he nearly ousted James four years ago. If James doesn't run, possible candidates include State Senator Ronald Rice, Sr. and Assemblyman Wilfredo Caraballo. Also running is David Blount, the President of the University Heights Science Park Residents Association.

Ocean City: Mayor Bud Knight is retiring after fourteen years in office. Councilmen Jody Alessandrine, who nearly defeated Knight in 2002, is running again, along with Councilman Frank McCall and Salvatore Perillo, a former Atlantic County Counsel and Newark Corporation Counsel.

Paterson: Mayor Joey Torres became the city's first Latino Mayor in 2002, when he defeated incumbent Martin Barnes. Barnes had been under indictment for on charges that he accepted expensive gifts, luxurious vacations and female companionship from city vendors; he was released from federal prison last Friday. Former Police Chief James Spagnola and Rev. James Kuykendall are challenging Torres.

Stafford: Mayor Carl Block, who is also the Ocean County Clerk, is a lock for re-election. He has no opposition, although his longtime rival, former Mayor Wesley Bell, could always run. Bell has become a perennial candidate in recent years; he ran as an Independent for Governor in 2005.

Trenton: Mayor Douglas Palmer faces Mercer County Freeholder Tony Mack, John Harmon, the President of the Metropolitan Trenton African American Chamber of Commerce, and candlemaker Frank Weeden.

West Orange: Incumbent John McKeon, a Democratic State Assemblyman, has only one opponent, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission: Councilman John Skarbnik. But Skarbnik, the West Orange Democratic Municipal Chairman, may have only filed a mayoral campaign committee in case McKeon does not seek re-election. One of the stakeholders in this race is Senate President Richard Codey, a strong McKeon ally who served as Deputy Mayor of West Orange under McKeon while he was serving as Governor last year.