Asbury Park, New Jersey incorporated as a borough by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 26, 1874, from portions of Ocean Township. The borough was reincorporated on February 28, 1893. Asbury Park was incorporated as a city, its current type of government, as of March 25, 1897.[1] The city has seen various changes in its form of government. It had directly elected mayors under its first two forms of government beginning in 1874. In 1915, the city adopted mayor-council form of government with a commission. It reorganized under the 1923 Municipal Manager Law in that year. In 2011, it became mayor-council.[2]
Mayors
Image
Name
Term
Party
Notes
John Moor
2014–2018 2018–
Elected mayor in November 2014 after the electorate voted to change the form of government with the direct election of the mayor[3][4][5]
First African-American female mayor. Won appointment in July 2013 in a 3-2 City Council vote despite being the 2nd place vote getter breaking tradition.[6][7]
5th African-American mayor. Served three terms on Asbury Park City Council. Appointed to vacancy as City Councilman in 2005, Elected City Councilman in 2005 and reelected in 2009. Appointed to Asbury Park Urban Enterprise Zone Board in 1998. Served as Chairman of Urban Enterprise Zone Board 1999 - 2004 rebuilding the board of directors and Asbury Park UEZ Operations. Served as Mayor during the historic start of the ongoing city-wide redevelopment of Asbury Park. Created the Springwood Avenue Advisory Committee (SAAC) and served as SAAC Chairman which developed on-going Springwood Avenue Redevelopment Plan recognized by 2008 Planning Merit Award for the Amended Springwood Avenue Redevelopment Plan and the 2008 Achievement in Planning Award from the New Jersey Planning Officials for community-based planning. Founded the Transportation Station Subcommittee charged with the repairs and upgrades to the Asbury Park Transportation Center bolstering commuter and tourism rail service to the city. Oversaw preparation and reconstruction of the city during August 2011 Earthquake, 2011 Hurricane Irene and 2012 Superstorm Sandy. Developed Sister City Exchange Program with Casalgrande, Italy hosting Mayor Andrea Rossi in Asbury Park and leading a City delegation to Italy in 2012. Honored with Presidential visit to the city by President Barack Obama in May 2013. Retired as Mayor on June 30, 2019. Entered private life as president and Founder of Ed Johnson AP International civic engagement consulting firm. Continues public service as Honorary Member and Ambassador of the Global Parliament of Mayors.[8]
First woman mayor of Asbury Park[17] Named mayor in March 1994 after prior mayor resigned after being charge with cocaine possession.[17] Lost a recall election in February 1996.[18]
Dennis M. Buckley
1993–1994
Resigned in March 1994 after being charged with cocaine possession[17]
In 1969, Raymond Paul Kramer was elected to the City Council of Asbury Park,[20] the first person of Jewish descent to serve on the City Council.[21] In May 1973, he was elected by the City Council as mayor.[22][23] Elected to the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1974. Ray Kramer was chosen as Director of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders in April 1976 to succeed Philip N. Gumbs, who had been appointed to the Worker's Compensation Court, and served in that capacity for the balance of the year. He again served as Director in 1979 and 1980.[24] After serving two, three-year terms, he was defeated for reelection to a third term in 1980. In 1981, he attempted a return to the Board, but was again defeated. Kramer was elected to his third and final term in 1982, but was defeated by his Republican opponent, former County Administrator Theodore J. Narozanick. He lost a 1988 re-match with Narozanick [25]
James Adam Bradley was the founder of the borough of Asbury Park[47][48] The title "mayor" seems to have been loosely applied to the leader of the borough with both Bradley and Frank LaRue Ten Broeck referred to as such.[49]
^ ab"Mayors of Asbury Park, New Jersey". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-09-30. T. Frank Appleby 1908-12 Reginald S. Bennett 1913 Clarence E. F. Hetrick 1916-41 Clarence V. Mooney 1941-44 George A. Smock II 1950-55 Kenneth E. Saunders, Sr. 1997-2001 Kevin G. Sanders 2001-
^"Former Mayor of Asbury Park Is Accused of Bribery Attempt". New York Times. April 3, 2003. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Kenneth E. Saunders Sr., 58, who was mayor from 1996 to 2001, and Rayfield James Jr., 46, a local political operative, were arrested this morning at their homes in Asbury Park, a city in central New Jersey.
^"Ship's Hulk Is Centre Of Asbury Park Dispute". New York Times. September 14, 1934. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Protests against 'commercialization' of the hulk of the illfated liner Morro Castle drew from Mayor Sherman O. Dennis, after a City Council meeting this morning, a denial that the Council intended to make a beach show of the hulk.
^"Theodore Frank Appleby". Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Appleby, Theodore Frank (1864-1924) — also known as T. Frank Appleby — of Asbury Park, Monmouth County, N.J. Born in Old Bridge, Middlesex County, N.J., October 10, 1864. Son of Theodore Frelinguysen Appleby and Margaret Susanna (Mount) Appleby; married, April 10, 1889, to Alice C. Hoffman; father of Stewart Hoffman Appleby. Republican. Real estate and insurance business; delegate to Republican National Convention from New Jersey, 1896; mayor of Asbury Park, N.J., 1908-12; U.S. Representative from New Jersey 3rd District, 1921-23; defeated, 1922. Methodist. Member, Freemasons. Died, of heart trouble, in Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Md., December 15, 1924 (age 60 years, 66 days). Interment at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Old Bridge, N.J.
^"Mayoralty Contest At Asbury Park. Unusual Interest in the Fight Between Founder Bradley and Mayor Ten Broeck". New York Times. October 1, 1901. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Local politicians are more interested in the coming Mayoralty election than they are in the battle being waged for Governor by Frankin Murphy and James N. Seymour. The fact that Founder James A. Bradley and Mayor Frank L. Ten Broeck will, oppose each other in the Republican primary next Tuesday evening is responsible for the unusual interest manifested in the charter election. ...
^"Bradley No Longer Mayor. Paves The Way To Sale Of Boardwalk At Asbury Park". Baltimore Sun. December 2, 1902. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Founder James A. Bradley is no longer Mayor of Asbury Park. Mr. Bradley's resignation was formally accepted tonight to pave the way for the purchase of his Boardwalk and the city sewers, for which negotiations will be opened this week by a special committee, consisting of Dr. Bruce S. Keater ...