This Republican Woman Is Running For Red Bank Mayor

RED BANK, NJ — Republican Pearl Lee, an 18-year Red Bank resident, has declared her candidacy to be Red Bank's mayor. Lee, who reached the ballot as a write-in candidate, will be challenging longtime incumbent Mayor Pasquale Menna in the Nov. 6 election.

Lee enters the race with a strong background in business leadership, which she believes is needed to improve municipal operations, called out as “ineffective” and “dysfunctional” in the Management Enhancement Review, a scathing 42-page assessment commissioned by the borough.

"I've been door knocking and it's heartwarming to find residents happy to know they finally have a choice," Lee told Patch. "I'm just trying to get the word out that I'm here!"

Lee said she was motivated to run for office after reading the Management Enhancement Review report, which is highly critical of the borough’s municipal operations and recommends a complete overhaul. The report quotes borough workers, elected officials, business owners and business agency staff as saying, "Important issues here have been ignored for much too long" and "We can’t continue the way we are" and "We have been sliding downhill for years."

“There’s a breakdown of communication, direction, responsibility and accountability,” said Lee.

A first-time candidate for public office, she said: “I am excited about my candidacy for mayor. I was a write-in candidate after I learned that the current mayor was running unopposed for the third time. I’ve felt the frustrations of the people of Red Bank firsthand. After years of waste and inefficiency, it’s time to clean house. After 12 years, it’s time to give voters a real choice in November.”

Lee, 64, is a single mother with a son who graduated from Red Bank Regional High School. A proud Asian American, she was born in the south Bronx and moved to Monmouth County 35 years ago.

“My campaign is about the people of Red Bank. We need fresh blood. It’s a call to action and I’ve answered by building a grassroots campaign. I’m not a politician, I just care deeply about the future of my town. There’s no room for stagnation and complacency. I want to give residents and property owners a new voice, a seat at the table – not business as usual behind closed doors,” she said

Lee invites residents to join her grassroots campaign efforts. Anyone interested can contact her at www.Pearl4RedBank.com.

“My business experience gives me the skills to build an efficient government that benefits the deserving residents and businesses of Red Bank,” said Lee, who enjoyed a more than 40-year career in the video entertainment industry.

In her career, she co-owned and operated a video publishing company. She is an active volunteer of the Women’s Exchange, the Blessing Bag Brigade, Associated Humane Society, member of FCLU.org. and is on the board of Mary Weir’s Pacific Encore Performances repertory company. She has also coached children’s tennis at East Side Park in Red Bank. For more information visit: www.Pearl4RedBank.com.