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The incumbent-led Forward Asbury Park ticket has found a replacement for Joe Grillo, who announced Sunday morning that he was pulling out of the race because of family and job commitments.

Will Potter, 46, will seek a place on the ballot with the ticket, which includes incumbents John Loffredo, Susan Henderson and Kevin Sanders. Also on the ticket is board of education member Gregory Hopson.

“I like their vision of what they’ve done for the city,” said Potter [right] of his running mates. “I think progress should be all over the city.”

To get Potter on the ballot, the Forward Asbury Park campaign team must deliver a nominating petition with 85 signatures of Asbury Park voters to the city clerk’s office by close of business Monday. That’s the deadline for all candidates to file their nominating petitions.

Potter is a six year resident of the city and lives in the Presidential condominium on Eighth Ave. He’s a school social worker in the Long Branch school system, working in the district’s alternative high school with students who quality for special education services. Potter has also worked in Asbury Park, primarily in the west side of the city.

“I’m familiar with the west side. I did intensive in-home therapy there for adolescents,” he said. “I’ve been over there and I know the challenges that they face.”

Potter has been a social worker for 24 years, he said. He has an undergraduate degree from Flagler College and a masters in social work from New York University.

All five seats on the city council are up for grabs in the non-partisan election on May 14. The term of office is four years. Incumbents Ed Johnson and James Bruno are not seeking reelection.

Three other slates have announced their candidacies: “The A-Team”, “One Asbury” and “AP Out Front”.

Click here for the Sun story about Joe Grillo’s withdrawal from the race. The story includes links to past Sun stories about each ticket, as well as links to candidate profiles compiled to date. Links are designated in bold.

 

 

 

 

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