Walsifer, McCracken & Clapsis To Build a Better Belmar

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On behalf of team Mayor Mark Walsifer, Council President Jim McCracken and Council Candidate Katrina Clapsis, we would like to take the time to share why we have chosen to run for Belmar Mayor and Council in the upcoming General Election on November 8.

Mayor Walsifer has served since on the Belmar Council since 2016 and Council President McCracken has served since 2018. This is resident Katrina Clapsis’ first time running for elected office.

While there is still much more work to be done, we are proud of the accomplishments we have made since being elected.

Within the first month of taking office, Mayor Walsifer made transparency a top priority by hosting a public workshop with borough officials to assess and shine a light on the borough's financial crisis that his Administration acquired, including debt in excess of $30 million, as well as a long list of much needed infrastructure repairs.

We have worked tirelessly to avert a long-term fiscal disaster and, instead, get our borough’s finances back in order by making responsible and fiscally conservative budgetary decisions.

While reinstating fiscal responsibility into the borough’s government, we also prioritized public safety with the purchase of new fire apparatus and technology for our police officers. We transitioned to a town-managed EMS squad and modernized the 9-1-1 system that, by next summer, will allow us to geo-locate calls coming from the beach, among other improvements.

We have also invested and plan to continue investing in our borough’s infrastructure – from paving roads to upgrading aging sewage and water lines. We have also replaced old and dangerous playgrounds from our beaches with new playgrounds for children to use. Under our leadership, we have also resurfaced basketball courts, repaired tennis courts and built new pickleball courts in the borough.

We’re proud of what we have accomplished but there is still work to be done to ensure Belmar remains a great place to visit and raise a family. It would be an honor to continue this work by being re-elected and elected to the Belmar Mayor and Council.

For more information about our platform, visit our website or Facebook. You can also email us at MJKforBelmar@gmail.com with any questions.

Meet the Candidates

Mayor Mark Walsifer: It has been an honor to serve as a member of the Belmar Council, first as a Councilman in 2016, and then as the Mayor of Belmar since 2019. It would be a privilege to continue serving in this capacity for the next four years.

I have enjoyed living in Belmar since 1967, with much of that time spent with my wife, Mary, of 39 years, and our adult son, Mark. We are parishioners of St. Rose Church.

While I am currently a self-employed business owner involved in product distribution and real estate, I proudly served our community as an officer with the Belmar Police Department. After 25 years of service, I retired as a Detective Sergeant in 2016. During my tenure, I received numerous awards and served in many leadership positions, including Past President of the Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local #50.

During this period in my life, I also served as a member of the Belmar Elementary School Board of Education for 17 years, which included 7 years as Vice President until 2016.

I have also served as a member of the Belmar Zoning Board of Adjustment, Planning Board and Belmar Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Committee.

In addition to currently serving as Mayor, I am actively involved with many community organizations. I am a member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh of the Jersey Shore, the Belmar Fishing Club and paying member of Belmar Business Partners.

Council President Jim McCracken: It has been a privilege to serve as a member of the Belmar Council since 2018. It would be an honor to continue serving the community in this capacity.

I first moved to Belmar in 1996 and have enjoyed living here with my wife, Lisa, and stepson, Brady.

I currently serve as the President and CEO of LeadingAge NJ & DE, a bi-state organization serving mission driven senior living and service providers. I have had a passion for this industry for decades, as I previously worked for United Methodist Communities, during which I opened a new, state-of-the-art Continuing Care Retirement Community in Sussex County. Additionally, I served as the State of New Jersey’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman, advocating for residents of long-term care communities.

Prior to serving the Belmar Community, I served seven years as a member of the Fredon Township Committee, including terms as Deputy Mayor and Mayor.

Whether holding office or participating in a local organization, I am a firm believer in community service. I am a former volunteer EMT/firefighter, Rotarian and member of various chambers of commerce, a Past President of a 200 Club and County League of Municipalities. I also served on the Board of Directors of Birth Haven, a shelter for homeless, pregnant women.

I am currently a member of the Belmar Fishing Club Board of Trustees, a member of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh and a Commissioner of the Belmar Housing Authority.

Katrina Clapsis: It would be an honor to serve my community by being elected to serve as a member of the Belmar Council.

My husband Eugene and I first purchased a home in Belmar in 2002, moving here full-time in 2011. After celebrating 20 years of spending time and living here, I have decided I'd like the opportunity to give back and serve our community by running for the Belmar Council.

Until my retirement in 2019, I worked as a licensed hairdresser for 40 years in my hometown of Matawan.

I currently serve as the Volunteer Director of The Food Pantry at St. Paul's Church in Ocean Grove, in conjunction with Fulfill NJ, formerly the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

I am also a charter member of Belmar Better (Braver) Angels, a nonpartisan group of residents of goodwill, and a Block Captain for the Belmar Community Policing Program. I previously served on the Friendship Force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While my candidacy is new, my interest in the borough's government is not. I have followed the issues and concerns from residents like myself for as long as I can remember and have participated in many movements to ensure our borough remains a great place to live. I have chaired or gathered signatures for numerous petitions of interest, all with successful outcomes.

I also enjoy regularly attending town meetings and serving as an active participant, asking questions about measures being discussed or voted on.

This article was paid for by M J K For Belmar, P.O. Box 163, Belmar, NJ 07719.

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