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The incumbent council members running for re-election in the Asbury Park city council elections this May have announced that candidates Joe Grillo and Gregory Hopson have joined their ticket.

Deputy Mayor John G. Loffredo, Councilwoman Sue Henderson and Councilman Kevin Sanders are running to renew their four-year terms. Grillo works as the executive director of the Monmouth County Democrats and is the chairperson of the Asbury Park Democratic organization. Hopson is a current board of education member. Until this year, he was the board’s president.

The group, running under the name “Forward Asbury Park,” released campaign literature late last night. Their campaign platform includes, according to a prepared release:

A Record of Achievement… A Vision for the Future

Rebuilding our Community- New Springwood Ave. Senior Center, Revitalization of the Downtown District and Reigniting the Waterfront. Additional Redevelopment has also begun on the Main St. and Springwood Ave. Corridors.

Expanding Youth Recreation- Prospect Ave Basketball Courts, New Boxing Facility and the Water Park. Plans are in Place to Build a Community-wide Skate Park.

More Police on Our Streets- 15 New Police Officers and a New Police Substation on Springwood Ave. – Funded with Federal and State Grants.

Jobs- Organized Job Training and Placement Programs with Public and Private groups including Interfaith Neighbors, Faith-Based Initiative Group, and the Office of Hispanic Affairs.

Growing Our Local Economy- Attracted New Businesses and Investors to Grow Asbury Park – Even During the Great Recession

Asbury Park First- Negotiated AGreements that Require Developers to Hire Asbury Park Residents and Buy 20% of their Supplies from Asbury Park Businesses.

“Forward Asbury Park” also includes a statement from current Mayor Ed Johnson, who will not seek reelection.

“We have all worked hard to turn this community around and we can’t go back to the way things were,” Johnson is quoted as saying. “The Forward Asbury Park Team will keep us on a steady course that will continue to bring progress to all of Asbury Park.”

All five council seats are up for grabs this year. Elections are nonpartisan and the winners’ new four-year terms will begin on July 1. Election Day is Tuesday, May 14.

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[Pictured above, from left: Deputy Mayor John G. Loffredo, Councilman Kevin Sanders, Councilwoman Sue Henderson, Joe Grillo and Gregory Hopson.]

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