West Long Branch GOP counters national trend
Tucci, Ruane, Cioffi will be sworn to new terms on Jan. 1

Janet W. Tucci

WEST LONG BRANCH - Newly re-elected Republican Mayor Janet W. Tucci considers herself lucky.

Aside from winning re-election to the mayor's office, Tucci says she is especially grateful to have survived an apparent voter backlash against political incumbents that spread throughout Monmouth County this past Election Day.

Running for the mayor's office while still doing the actual job she was first elected to a year ago proved to be a bit of a balancing act, said Tucci, who has been filling the last year of the unexpired term of former mayor Paul Zambrano.

With campaigning behind her, Tucci says she is relieved not to have to pound the pavement or knock on doors, at least not on her own behalf, for another four years.

"I especially appreciate the trust and faith of the public in recognizing my running mates and myself," Tucci said in an interview Friday.

Those victorious running mates, incumbent Councilwoman Barbara Ruane and first-time candidate Steven Cioffi will be sworn to new terms with Tucci at the governing body's reorganization meeting on Jan. 1.

With a political career stretching over 20 years, Tucci has campaigned many times, primarily for her council seat.

However, Tucci says this past campaign against Democratic challenger John Hegarty was one of the most negative she has experienced.

In a campaign that revolved around property taxes, relations with Monmouth University, and repairs to the borough's police station, Tucci managed to pull in more than 56 percent of all votes cast.

Hegarty, a private building contractor making his first run for elected office, came up short with 44 percent of the votes.

"I'm pleased that the voters responded to the positive approach used by my team and rejected the negative campaigning and misinformation of my opponents," said Tucci, a learning disabilities consultant in neighboring Long Branch.

"I'm glad it's over," she said. "I'm looking forward to continuing to work hard for the residents of West Long Branch."

Ruane, who like Tucci had been filling the last year of an unexpired term, is likewise pleased that voters will let her stay for another four years.

Both she and Cioffi defeated lone Democratic council candidate Barry Pollack, who ran with Hegarty.

"It's wonderful to be re-elected and to have swept the ticket, especially in an election where the Republican candidates took such a beating," Ruane said in an e-mailed statement.

"I am grateful that the majority of the residents saw through the misinformation that was circulated about us and recognized the truth regarding all the positive things we are accomplishing," she continued. "We ran a clean campaign based on our credentials and it paid off."

"Now that it's over, it's back to continuing to progress with the issues affecting our town," Ruane concluded.

"I'd like to thank all of our supporters who worked so hard to help us win, and all of the residents who chose to remain loyal to their town and not seek a new West Long Branch," Ruane said.

At press time, Cioffi, who will start his first term, could not be reached for comment.

Nonetheless, Ruane acknowledged his role and Tucci's in making the campaign "a positive and fun learning experience."

A later entry to the race for two available council seats, Cioffi is employed as an Oceanport police officer.

With veteran Republican Councilman Richard F. Cooper Jr. retiring from the council on Dec. 31, Tucci will be the senior official on the governing body.

Ruane, president of an emergency management consulting firm, will begin her first four-year term on the council, which is controlled by the GOP by a 5-1 margin.

She has been filing the unexpired term of former Councilman Joseph DeLisa.

Zambrano and DeLisa, both Democrats, resigned their elected offices after they were arrested on charges of extortion by the FBI in February 2005.