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Another ticket looking to oust the incumbents in the Asbury Park May city council election has been announced. The group, under the name “One Asbury,” consists of Amy Quinn, Myra Campbell, Joe Woerner, John Moor and Talesha Crank.

“We’ve decided to run together as ‘One Asbury,’ because we believe that by working together as one city, with a common vision, we can make Asbury Park a safe, affordable, beautiful city by the sea, for residents and visitors alike,” Quinn said in a prepared release.

“The One Asbury ticket includes five people who have all been working in the community for years,” the release reads. “Unlike others running for office, who have only recently become active in our community or walked out on their commitments to the people of Asbury Park, our individual and collective track record shows One Asbury’s commitment to the people of this city.”

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.

AMY QUINN

Quinn is an attorney with the community health law project. She has lived in Asbury Park for 12 years and is vice chair of the city’s Environmental Commission. She created the Get Carded campaign for laundry cards after Hurricane Sandy, and organized a town hall meeting in response to a dog fighting ring. She participates in the Reading Buddies program at the Thurgood Marshall Elementary School.

MYRA CAMPBELL

Campbell is an insurance agent and community leader who served as co-chair for the Obama Campaign and was a Democratic party delegate for the President’s 2008 campaign. She advocated during infrastructure work on the West Side to ensure citizens’ rights were upheld, according to the campaign press release. She served the community as president of the West Side Neighborhood Block Watch, and was a member of the first Urban Enterprise Zone in the city. She was also a commissioner in the Asbury Park Housing Authority. She currently participates in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Asbury Park.

JOE WOERNER

Woerner is an elementary school teacher in Neptune Township. He has worked with Asbury Park youth for nearly a decade, according to the campaign’s release. He also serves on the city’s Environment and Shade Tree Commission, and is a lead organizer of AP Family Day at the Beach. He has advocated for preventing development at the North End Beach.

JOHN MOOR

Moor has lived in Asbury Park for 35 years. He raised his family here with his wife, Vera. He is a retired deputy director of public maintenance after 31 years of service. He volunteered in Asbury Park throughout his life, and served 12 years on the Asbury Park Board of Education. Moor is vice chairman of the housing authority, and a trustee of the historical society.

TALESHA CRANK

Crank is a district three representative and vice chair of the Asbury Park Democratic Committee. She served as a secretary to the Asbury Park Neptune NAACP for four years, where she coordinated the Oct. 2, 2010, march to Washington, DC., to advocate for jobs and quality education. She represents Monmouth County’s human relations commission. She is a member of the local Pride of Asbury Elks Temple 64, where she coordinates the annual Toys for Tots Christmas event.

CAMPAIGN PLATFORMS

These five candidates are advocating for unification of Asbury Park in the arenas of development and government. They’d like to see less crime and more jobs, and they’d like to reduce property taxes. From their prepared release:

A Seat at the Table For All

The One Asbury ticket feels passionately that in a small city with a highly diverse community, everyone needs a voice and a seat at the table. “We specifically sought out candidates who together represent the diversity that makes our city so great”, explained Amy Quinn.

One Asbury Candidates on the Issues

Less Crime, More Jobs: “Over the past 10 years the crime rate in tough, urban cities like Trenton and Newark has dropped by as much as 30%”, explains Talesha Crank. “Meanwhile, in Asbury Park, the crime rate has increased by over 20% from 2000 to 2012. These statistics speak loud and clear about the job the current council is doing. Crime effects everyone and we need a community wide response to solve it, beginning with an active, engaged city council”

Reducing Property Taxes: “Over the last four years, the tax rate has increased nearly 14% while the sewer tax has increased by a staggering 44%”, stated John Moor. “The continuous multi-million dollar bonding and borrowing is an unfair burden for present and future generations of Asbury Park residents. We intend to reestablish an effective budget committee to look at both the immediate and future budgets with a goal of establishing and maintaining an affordable and stable tax rate.”

Open and Responsive Government: Myra Campbell explains, “I am running with my colleagues because I respect them even when we see things differently. We understand that it’s possible to work together while holding onto principals. By respecting our unique individual strengths while remaining willing to listen to each other and our community, we can ensure a safe and prosperous future for Asbury Park.”

Thoughtful Development that Benefits the Whole Community: “A lot of the other people running for council seats have focused almost exclusively on tourism in the Waterfront Redevelopment Area”, explains Joe Woerner. “Although no one would argue that this is part of the solution, by itself that’s not the answer. We need the kind of development that promotes tourism, but also provides long lasting jobs and helps build a diverse economy.”

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[Pictured above, clockwise from top left: Myra Campbell, John Moor, Amy Quinn, Joe Woerner and Talesha Crank.]

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