Schneider talks future, reflects on campaign

Schneider talks future, reflects on campaign
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Newly re-elected, six-term Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider said last week that his administration’s main focus for the next four years will be making the pier and ferry terminal proposed for the oceanfront a reality.

Mayor Adam Schneider Mayor Adam Schneider “I want to get the pier built,” Schneider said. “The biggest goal is to get the design finished and the project funded. That has the biggest impact on the town.”

According to the unofficial election results, Schneider received 2,487 votes in the May 11 election, soundly defeating rival Councilman Brian Unger with 1,617 votes and financial adviser Robert Krebs with 459 votes.

With the election behind him, Schneider is looking to the future.

He said another important focus for the city would be whether the state government makes any changes that will impact the way municipalities do business.

“The second thing is to work with Trenton; we don’t know what’s coming from Trenton yet,” he said. “We lost a lot of money in state aid, and I anticipate that is going to be the way things work from here on out.

“What rules is the state going to change in how cities are going to be run, and will they make cities more efficient and more cost-effective?” he added.

Schneider acknowledged that he is unsure whether this will be his last term.

“I’m not going to say this is it,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to feel like four years from now.

“Right now I’m still on the rather ecstatic side.”

In the week leading up to the election, testimony by federal witness Solomon Dwek in a corruption trial included the allegation that he used a middleman to bribe officials in Long Branch, including the mayor and members of council, whom he did not name.

The Unger campaign used the testimony as campaign fodder, which Schneider said made the victory sweeter.

“It was in one way the most rewarding,” he said. “The most disgusting attack ever leveled on me came last week, and not only didn’t the voters not believe it, they resoundingly supported me.”

His sixth term will be somewhat different for Schneider because longtime council members David Brown, Michael DeStefano and Anthony Giordano opted not to run. Taking their place on Schneider’s ticket are Joy Bastelli, Kate Billings and Michael Sirriani, along with current Councilwoman Mary Jane Celli, who won re-election.

Schneider’s fifth running mate, Al Menkin, was defeated by just 11 votes, losing to former Councilman John Pallone.

Schneider acknowledged that he expects a learning curve for his rookie members of council.

“I look forward to working with the new running mates, and I’m going to miss Anthony, Dave and Mike,” he said. “They also aren’t going anywhere; they just aren’t going to be councilmen anymore.

“There is certainly going to be a learning curve.”

Schneider admitted that he generally doesn’t look forward to campaigns, but is competitive.

“Campaigns are always very much a roller coaster,” he said. “I’m glad it’s over.

“I dread the campaign, and I don’t look forward to it,” he added. “When I’m in the middle of it, I’m very good at it.”

Schneider said he feels a little different coming out of this campaign compared to how he has felt after some previous campaigns.

“I think I’m going to recover from this one fairly quickly,” he said. “I’ve come out of campaigns where I was incredibly burned out.

“I don’t feel that way right now,” he added. “I had fun this campaign.”

Schneider also looked back at his previous four years as mayor.

“Manahassett Creek Park was a substantial issue,” he said. “Four years ago people didn’t think it was going to happen.

“You go down there any particular night and there are 300 or 400 people,” he added. “If you are involved in any sport in the city, you are there, from young kids to grownups.

“Four years ago, Pier Village wasn’t open and running,” he continued. “We didn’t have the summer concert series down there until like 2006. All these different things hit.”

The election results were a big topic at the May 12 City Council meeting.“ I would like to congratulate all the people who ran for office,” Michelle Bobrow said during the public comment portion. “I hope we will have more open government, more communication, more of being able to have respect from our elected officials by eye contact and communication.”

Council candidate Harold “Pudgy” Cooper said he was disappointed with the low voter turnout.

“Let me congratulate the winners of yesterday’s election and let me scold the general populous of this city for being so damn lazy that we refuse to come out and exercise our rights to vote,” Cooper said loudly. “In a city of 14,000 voters, we have 4,500 turn out. It’s

ridiculous, people.”

Diana Multare, a member of Long Branch Citizens for Good Government, promised that the group would be monitoring the new administration.

“We fully intend to keep your feet to the fire, just like we’ve done in the past,” she said.A

t the end of the meeting, Unger looked back at his four years on council.

“It’s been a pleasure serving this City Council,” he said. “I enjoyed working with the entire council.

“I think you have an excellent new council coming in,” he added.

I’d like to have seen our team win, but I think the city’s in good hands.”

Unger admitted that there were some mistakes but some successes as well.

“There are some things that I wish I did better, there are some things I wish I didn’t do at all,” he said. “I am proud of the things I did do, like promoting eminent domain legislation, I got the beach fees reduced, I have been pushing for cable broadcast of our council meetings, and I still hope to see an historic preservation commission.”

Giordano also spoke confidently of the future of the city under the new administration.

“I am very confident in their abilities. I am very confident they will lead the city in the right direction,” he said. “I think we are in good hands the next four years.”

Contact Kenny Walter at

kwalter@gmnews.com.