Daniel A. Harris III has thrown his hat in the ring for this year’s city council election.
Harris, 61, is running as part of the A-Team ticket. He was raised in Neptune and currently resides on Ridge Avenue. He has lived in Asbury Park for 30 years, he said.
Harris has been married to Emily Harris for 31 years, he said. Their daughter, Nicolle Harris, is a graduate of Asbury Park High School and Delaware State University. She currently serves on the Asbury Park Board of Education.
Harris and his wife served as foster parents for 10 years, he said.
He holds a bachelor of sciences degree as well as an MBA from Monmouth University, and a teaching certificate and supervisor’s certificate from Rutgers University.
He was owner of Harris Bros. Auto Repair Shop before going into education, he said. He also worked during his college years as a tutor of young people at Second Baptist Church.
He currently works for the Essex County Vocational Technical School as an auto body teacher and athletic director. He also worked as a consultant to United Community Corp. in Newark for eight years.
As athletic director, he has helped soccer, cross country, boys basketball, girls basketball, girls track and boys track teams to win numerous league and conference championships, including state titles. Last year, 80 percent of the track athletes and 100 percent of the girls basketball players were awarded Division I college scholarships.
Harris also helped organize and served as president of the North Jersey Technical Interscholastic League. He serves as director of the New Jersey Technical Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships.
Harris has served as director of the West Side Community Center and Shore YMCA Summer Camp. He is a member of the Second Baptist Church men’s ministry, senior choir and men’s choir, he said. He also served on Block Watch about 10 years ago.
Harris has also mentored many young people, some of whom affectionately refer to him as Mr. D., he said. He attends many Asbury Park High School sports games to support young people.
“I decided to run for council because we need to bring this city together,” Harris said in an email. “All people need representation and all issues need to be dealt with. I feel it is my time and I know I am more than qualified to lead the citizens of Asbury Park.”
Harris feels the city’s leaders need to listen to everyone, he said, and address the needs of all citizens.
To Harris, the most important issues in the city are safety and jobs. He believes crime will decrease as unemployment decreases. Citizens need jobs that will enable people to support their families, he said.
“When elected, I want to see a unified community,” he said. “We will have safe streets for everyone. Meaningful jobs as part of our redevelopment plan for all.”
The city council election is May 14. All five council seats are up for grabs in this nonpartisan election. The current council’s terms expire on June 30. New terms begin July 1.
——————————————————————–
[NOTE: This post has been edited to clarify Harris’s past involvement with Block Watch.]
