Asbury Park Mayor Myra Campbell Throws Council Members Under The Bus

Asbury Park Mayor Myra Campbell went out of way to embarrass her colleagues on the city’s governing body last evening during the National Night Out celebration.

While introducing Congressman Frank Pallone as a candidate for “State Senator” (Pallone is running for the Democratic nomination to succeed the late United States Senator Frank Lautenberg), Campbell went off script with a spiel about the importance of citizens knowing their governmental representatives.

“I represent you as mayor of Asbury Park and I want you to know your other representatives,” Campbell announced to the crowd of a few hundred, “If you are a member of the council, please step forward.

“Susan Henderson, Deputy Superintendent, uh, Deputy Mayor Susan Henderson.  I know John Loffredo is on vacation. Councilman John Moor, are you here.  Amy Quinn?

“I guess they’re not here.  They are your representatives.”

The council members were not scheduled to join the other dignitaries on stage for the kickoff of the event.

Councilwoman Amy Quinn was seen arriving to the celebration about 10 minutes after the formal remarks concluded.

Quinn told MMM that “unequivocally” Moor and Henderson attended after the formal remarks to kickoff the event.

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New Asbury Park Government Off To Rocky Start

John Lofreddo, left, Myra Campbell, center and Susan Henderson.
AsburyParkSun.com photo

The hope of a new beginning was replaced with anger today in Asbury Park when the new city council was sworn in.

John Moor, the top vote getter in the May 14 non-partisan election, was expected to be appointed mayor by his colleagues, as is the tradition.  He had the 3 votes he needed on the 5 person council by virtue of his own election and that of two of his running mates, Amy Quinn and Myra Campbell who ran on the One Asbury ticket in the non-partisan election.

Then sometime over the weekend, Campbell split with her running mates and made a deal with returning council members John Lofreddo and Susan Henderson, who ran for reelection on the Forward Asbury ticket, to get the mayoral title for herself.

The mayor’s office in Asbury Park is largely ceremonial in the city’s form of government.  The appointed City Manager, a full time employee appointed by the council, runs the day to day operations of the city. Asbury Park elects their entire council once every four years.

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