New Mayor, Council Members In Point Pleasant Beach

POINT PLEASANT BEACH - A new era began in Point Pleasant Beach as two new council members and a new mayor were sworn in on Saturday.

Mayor Paul Kanitra and Council members Arlene Testa and Doug Vitale were sworn in at 12 noon on Saturday at Borough Hall.

Ceremonial Oaths of Office were performed by Assemblyman-elect John Catalano. The new council president is Tom Migut.

Also sworn in were Fire Department Chief Michael Ryan, Assistant Fire Chief William Wackowski, First Deputy Fire Chief Michael Brodeur and Second Deputy Fire Chief Ira Waldman.

Kanitra, who has said it's time to bring people "together" after a time of political acrimony, won nearly 80 percent of the mayor election vote in November.

"The staggering numbers in an off-year election validates our ideas and solutions as ones the vast majority of residents want," he said in November.

Kanitra succeeds Stephen Reid, whom he defeated in a tough primary battle. Kanitra headed the GOP ticket after unseating Reid in a June primary race that was highlighted by the high-level of contentiousness, though the general election battle was relatively quiet.

Point Pleasant Beach Councilman Tom Toohey and Council President Tom Vogel both lost to Testa and Vitale in the primary.

Read more: Mayor Reid Defeated In Point Pleasant Beach GOP Primary (UPDATED)

Some of that acrimony continued into the summer, and Reid drew criticism when he took issue with the behavior of his opponents at non-political events.

Read more: Point Pleasant Beach Mayor: Probe Baseball 'Cursing' (UPDATED)

Kanitra listed his team's goals and objectives:

• Implement Quality of Life Initiatives To Make Point Beach Shine Again
• Start a Town Newsletter, Working Group and Survey to Give Back a Voice to the Residents
• Put Together a Clear and Cohesive Vision and Plan to Protect Our Town's Future
• Create a Business and Economic Development Focus For a Thriving Downtown
• Enforce Our Town Ordinances
• Hold Contractors Responsible For Negligent Work
• Secure Federal and State Grants to Keep Taxes Low
• Develop Innovative Solutions to Increased Flooding
• Bring the Elks Back Home
• Launch a New Committee to Focus on the Needs of Our Seniors