Community activist Duanne Small [pictured above] is hitting the pavement to collect signatures for a petition to join the city’s charter study commission.
The charter study commission, established via ordinance in May, would scrutinize the city’s current form of government and possibly suggest changes. In the November election, the electorate will vote on whether they want to see a commission formed, as well as which five citizens should serve on the commission.
Small, 42, has lived in Asbury Park since he was 18 years old. Before that, he lived in both Asbury and Neptune and went to both towns’ high schools.
He works as a general contractor and owns the company Kingz Group. He also volunteers with Cease Fire, a group that mediates between gang members and speaks to young people in an effort to decrease street violence.
Small is the Democratic representative of Asbury Park’s third voting district, having ousted a longtime incumbent earlier this year.
He also spearheaded an unsuccessful movement to have the city’s form of government changed to a ward system. After his group’s petition was rejected, the council voted to approve the charter study plan.
Small feels his group’s efforts prompted the charter study commission’s formation.
“There is a change needed in the community,” Small said. “I feel it’s in the best interest of us to participate in the charter study, because it was us who did the legwork for it in the first place.”
He hopes the charter study commission can bring the community together and give representation to Asbury Park citizens of all stripes.
“Those who are in the leadership positions need to have more of a concern for the residents of Asbury Park,” Small said. “There also needs to be more home rule in Asbury Park instead of outsiders.”
Small is also currently spearheading a movement to recall three council members, although the city clerk’s office rejected Small’s petitions earlier this week.
The charter study commission, if approved by voters in November, will scrutinize the city’s current form of government to determine if changes need to be made, as well as potentially reschedule the date of elections. If the five commissioners determine change is necessary, they will make recommendations to the electorate, who will vote on the change at the 2013 election.
The commission can propose such changes as establishing a directly-elected mayor, creating a ward system to elect council members and other options allowed under the law. Currently, all five council members are elected at once, every four years in May.
The commission can also recommend changing the municipal election from May to November, as well as switch from the current non-partisan system where candidate run without party affiliation to one where they’re designated as Democrats or Republicans.
Robert Obler, Rita Marano, Pam Lamberton andMichelle Maguire are also seeking candidacy. The commission has space for five members and petitions for candidacy are available at city hall.
