Red Bank Councilwoman Explains Short-Lived Independent Mayoral Run

RED BANK, N.J.— Falling short of qualifying signatures on her petition to run as an independent for mayor here, Democratic Councilwoman Jacqueline Sturdivant has released a statement about her short-lived run.

The move came after a Democratic mayoral primary on June 7 that saw newcomer Billy Portman defeat Councilman Michael Ballard, whom Sturdivant supported, by a wide margin.

The outgoing Red Bank Democratic municipal chairman Ed Zipprich, also a Democratic Councilman, released the statement by Sturdivant on Tuesday:

"Dear Red Bank,

I ran for Council because I was concerned about the way Red Bank was being run. In the eight months since I was elected to serve, I have kept my focus on ways to deliver on my pledges to the residents of our town.

"I believe experience, vision and proven leadership matter when serving in government. My leadership in educational services and business along with my commitment to our community led me to believe that the residents of Red Bank deserved a choice should Michael’s (Ballard) attempt fail.

"I supported Michael Ballard’s historic mayoral candidacy. His opponent’s campaign message stated he was a placeholder for five months and he supported changing the government. Councilman Ballard’s opponent had no experience, no vision and no legislative initiatives.

"This celebration of change with no clear purpose or vision greatly concerned me. I believed that all residents who would be directly impacted deserved another choice.

"I filed to run as an independent to at least try to preserve the chance of Red Bank remaining the small town I have always loved.

"I am deeply concerned about the direction our town is now heading but have learned that, of the 82 signatures obtained for my petition, 28 can be successfully challenged, leaving me 18 short.

"I have therefore withdrawn my petition to run as an independent candidate for mayor of Red Bank. I will work as best I can with whomever to continue to deliver on my pledges to the people."

In a day of many developments in the feud among Democrats here, the Monmouth County Democrats organization on Monday announced full support for Portman.

The organization criticized Zipprich, for notarizing a petition by Sturdivant to run as an independent in November. The organization announced Monday it had filed the challenge to Sturdivant's petition with the Monmouth County Clerk. But by Monday evening her petition was withdrawn.

And it appears that in the election of two county committee representatives in each of the borough's nine districts, Portman's supporters will also succeed. Votes are still unofficial, but Zipprich said so far Portman's team has won 11 spots compared with 7 won by the Zipprich team.

Meanwhile, in response to the Sturdivant withdrawal, Portman said Monday that "Assuming I win in November, I look forward to working with Jacqueline Sturdivant on behalf of the residents of Red Bank." Portman had no other comment on her statement Tuesday.

Portman will face a Republican challenger (Brian Irwin, as of the June 7 primary) in November, although the borough Democrats have prevailed for many years.

On Monday, the Monmouth County Democrats were scathing in their news releases about the move by Zipprich to run an independent candidacy.

"The Red Bank Democrats and outgoing municipal chair Ed Zipprich had Sturdivant file to run as an independent candidate on primary election day after it was clear that their original candidate for Mayor Michael Ballard would lose the primary to off-the-line candidate Democratic Billy Portman," the statement reads.

It continued:

"Zipprich, who claims to have not signed the petition, was actually the notary to who signed off on the petition before its filing on Tuesday. Never before has the Monmouth County Democrats seen a sitting Municipal Democratic Chairperson notarize the petitions of an Independent Candidate for Mayor while outwardly rejecting the choice of 61 percent of Red Bank Democratic Primary voters.

"In a shocking move, also signing the last minute petition was Democratic candidate for
Mayor Michael Ballard, along with 28 other individuals who signed Michael Ballard’s
petition. Democratic nominees for Council, Angela Mirandi and John Jackson, were also
signers of this petition and the Monmouth County Democrats will be evaluating their
support of other Monmouth County Democrats endorsed candidates.

"Voters cannot sign two petitions for one position in the same election. In this case, the signatures on the second petition would be thrown out, taking Sturdivant’s signature count under the required number of signatures needed to get on the ballot," the statement by the Monmouth County Democrats said.

Portman said he is happy to have the support of the Monmouth County Democrats.

"That's how it's supposed to work," he said.