Atlantic Highlands Councilman Jack Archibald Will Not Seek Reelection

By Muriel J. Smith and Art Gallagher

Jack Archibald

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Jack Archibald has withdrawn his candidacy for reelection.

Archibald submitted a letter to the County Committee which was read at a meeting of the borough’s Republican county committee on Monday. In his letter, the councilman stressed he is completing his term which runs out Jan. 1, 2018,  and will continue serving the borough.  However, citing personal reasons and commitments, he said he will not seek another term.

The councilman has been on the governing body for the past 25 years, serving on every committee at some time during his tenure. He has received commendations for work he has done and projects he has instituted or pursued while serving on Harbor, Police, Finance, Public Works , Recreation and  Water and Sewer.

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Archibald Wins GOP Nomination for Mayor in Atlantic Highlands

Jack Archibald

Councilman Jack Archibald defeated Councilman Lou Fligor for the Republican nomination for Mayor of Atlantic Highlands by an unofficial count of 301 to 169.

The 470 votes cast represents a very high 66% turnout, based upon 710 registered Republicans on April 15. The turnout percentage will be adjusted by the number of unaffiliated voters who declared a Republican affiliation today at the polls.

Archibald will face Democratic nominee for mayor Rhonda LeGrice in November.

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Archibald Makes His Case To Atlantic Highlands Voters

By Jack Archibald, Atlantic Highlands Councilman and Candidate for the Republican nomination Mayor

Jack Archibald

Voters will go to the polls next Tuesday to select the Republican candidate for Mayor in November. This primary election is critical; it could decide both the next Mayor and the future of Atlantic Highlands.

I believe it’s important that voters know as much about the candidates as they can before casting their ballots.

I am running for Mayor because I believe my professional experience and public service are greatly aligned to the skills required for the office. As a Senior Director in Public Finance at Fitch Ratings, my 25 plus years of knowledge and experience in public finance is exactly what is needed for important challenges facing Atlantic Highlands today.

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“Party crashers” could determine Atlantic Highlands GOP mayoral nominee

Atlantic Highlands Councilmen Jack Archibald, left, and Lou Fligor, right, face off for the Republican nomination for mayor in the June 2 primary

Partisan primaries in New Jersey are usually very low turnout elections. Mostly they are uncontested, so only die hard partisans, poll workers and their friends who bring them doughnuts bother to vote. In Atlantic Highlands last year, of the roughly 700 registered Republicans, only 101 voted in the primary. Only 68 or the roughly 800 Democrats voted in the 2014 primary.

In contested primaries on a local level, the candidate with the “Party line” on the ballot usually has a huge advantage over a challenger.

The “Party line” advantage is being challenged in Atlantic Highlands in this year’s Republican primary on June 2.  Two long term Republican Councilmen are competing to be the Party’s nominee for mayor.   Incumbent Mayor Fred Rast, first elected in 2007, is keeping his promise to term limit himself out of office.  Councilman Jack Archibald and Councilman Lou Fligor both want to be mayor.

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Republicans Split In Atlantic Highlands

Atlantic Highlands Mayor Fred Rast. file photo

A simmering feud within the Atlantic Highlands GOP boiled over into the public eye yesterday afternoon during the Borough’s reorganization meeting as three of the five Republican elected officials split with two of their newly reelected colleagues to elect a Democrat up for reelection this year as Council President.

Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno who was on hand to swear in veteran Councilmen Jack Archibald and Peter Doyle to their new terms was not pleased by the drama. “You’re killing me,” Guadagno said to Mayor Fred Rast, a Republican who supported the unorthodox move, according to a prominent county Republican who was present.

Republican Councilman Lou Fligor nominated Democrat Roy Dellosso to be Council President.   Jacob “Jake” Hoffman, also a Republican, joined Fligor, Dellossa, and Democrat Robert Sutton in electing Dellosso to the largely ceremonial post.  Archibald and Doyle voted no.

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