Point Pleasant Beach Election Preview: Races For Mayor, Council

POINT PLEASANT BEACH – Councilman Paul Kanitra will look to continue the Republican Party's domination of local politics on Tuesday when he runs to succeed Stephen Reid in the Nov. 5 election.

The Republican nominee for mayor will face Democrat Lawrence Dooley in the Nov. 5 election, while the GOP nominees for council, Arlene Testa and Doug Vitale, face Democrat Ernest "E.J." Geiger for two seats.

Kanitra heads the ticket after unseating Reid in a contentious June primary race, while Point Pleasant Beach Councilman Tom Toohey and Council President Tom Vogel both lost to Testa and Vitale.

Kanitra said his message in the general election is the same as it was when he ran in the primary: "We want to build forward as one town," he said. "The voters in Point Pleasant Beach are savvy and the facts don't escape them."

Geiger said he's running for Borough Council because he wants to "bring much needed transparency to our governing body."

"Countless times this year, items have been called for a vote with what seems like very little information provided," he said. "Unfortunately, this has not been limited to one particular person on the dais."

Kanitra also has argued for better transparency, a stance he took when he successful ran against Reid in the primary.

Toward that end, 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