Red Bank Mayor's Race Gets Another Candidate

RED BANK, N.J.— Another Democrat has filed a petition to run for mayor here, after the win by Billy Portman in the Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday.

Portman defeated Councilman Michael Ballard, who was supported by the Democratic organization in town.

And now Councilwoman Jacqueline Sturdivant, who supported Ballard, has filed a petition to run for mayor as an independent in the November election, Cassandra Achille, assistant supervisor for elections in Monmouth County, confirmed Friday.

Achille said Sturdivant filed a petition with 77 valid signatures. The minimum needed was 72, she said. As per the law, independent candidates are not required to change their party affiliation with the Commissioner of Registration, Achille said. The deadline to have filed a petition was Tuesday, June 7 by 4 p.m., primary election day.

Then there is the Republican candidate for mayor, Brian Irwin, who has a "placeholder" candidacy for now.

But the focus is on the feuding Democrats in town.

Ballard and Portman were seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat currently held by longtime Mayor Pat Menna, who was not endorsed by the Red Bank Monmouth County Democrats and chose not to run.

Portman, who ran on the Democrats United for Red Bank line, was leading Councilman Michael K. Ballard in the Democratic primary for mayor by 762 votes to Ballard's 498, as of unofficial results on Friday.

Menna congratulated Portman in a Facebook post June 7 that praised his "healthy win," defeating the Democratic organization. "A new day for a party of hope and not of fear," Menna said, among other comments in the post.

Portman said when reached for comment Friday that Ballard has "graciously conceded."

"No one expected us to win by such a margin," Portman told Patch on Friday. "It's a clear statement of how Red Bank voters feel."

Portman said of Sturdivant's filing that "people have a right to run in any race they want. I wished her good luck."

Portman did not run with a slate of council candidates.

Ballard was supported by the Red Bank Democratic organization and was running with the Monmouth County Democrats slate that includes incumbent Councilwoman Angela Mirandi and newcomer John J. Jackson, who ran unopposed for their nominations.

Portman said he spoke to the council candidates. "I said I looked forward to running with them."

On the Republican side, Irwin was running unopposed for the mayoral nomination. Christine Stout and Jonathan Penney were running unopposed for the two council nominations.

Councilman Ed Zipprich, who is also head of the Red Bank Democratic organization, has said he is waiting for every vote to be counted in both county committee races and the mayoral race before he comments on them. June 20 is the date by which the votes must be certified by the county.