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With the 2019 and 2020 elections already in high gear, the Asbury Park Democratic Committee is bringing back its town hall-style forums and meet-ups to inform, educate and inspire city residents and voters, organizers announced Tuesday.

“The Asbury Park Democrats have always stood as a voice for our city’s progressive values of equality, inclusion and civic activism,” Chairman Joe Grillo said. “Our primary goal this year is to register and mobilize 400 new Asbury Park residents in the run-up to the 2019 elections, to get Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling re-elected to the General Assembly, Ray Dothard elected as Sheriff, and Asbury Park’s own Moira Nelson and Michael Penna elected to the Freeholder Board; but with an eye always toward the 2020 Presidential election and defeating Donald Trump.”

The local initiative kicks off 5 pm Thursday at Watermark, with the state’s first ‘Pete Up,’ featuring state surrogates for the Pete Buttigieg for President campaign. Aside from the Happy Hour campaign discussion, there’ll be a few behind the scenes insights from some of Buttigieg’s political state activists and a chance for residents to learn how to get involved.

Buttigieg, a former naval intelligence officer and the incumbent South Bend, Indiana Mayor since 2012, is third in the line of Democratic prospects according to an Emerson poll of likely Iowa Caucus voters, Vogue reports.

“It is incumbent upon us to best position Asbury Park as the progressive political center in Central New Jersey so that candidates must visit and meet with City residents and voters in order to win,” Democratic Committee Vice Chair Angela Ahbez-Anderson said.

The Asbury Park Democrats’ free candidate-focused series is being held in conjunction with the Asbury Park Young Democrats and soon-to-launch Greater Asbury Park Democratic Club. Residents and voters will have the opportunity to hear from all the Democratic presidential campaigns at venues throughout Asbury Park.

“Our committee includes both lifelong and new residents – all working together to ensure Asbury Park continues to be the most progressive and inclusive city in Monmouth County,” Young Dems Chair Jess Alaimo said. “We hope this series of forums will be a vibrant exchange of ideas and platforms.”

Similar events are in the works with surrogates from Beto O’Rourke, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders’ camps, to name a few.

The Asbury Park Democrats’ town hall-style forums began in 2016. The local group hosted forums to inform voters on the Presidential campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, as well as meet and greets with Rep. Frank Pallone Jr [D-6] and then-gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy.

The Asbury Park “Pete Up” will take place 5 pm Thursday at Watermark, 800 Ocean Avenue, on the AP Boardwalk. The event is free and open to the public.

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