Thomas says not guilty of 'homophobic' remarks
Long Branch mayor asks Planning Bd. member to step down
BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer
After being accused of making "homophobic" comments at a public meeting, Long Branch Planning Board Vice Chairman Edward Thomas said he will not be resigning from the seat he has served on for more than two decades.

Thomas, who has been asked to step down from his position after an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual rights promised to protest at meetings in the city until the Planning Board member resigned, said he is not guilty of making "homophobic" remarks.

"I would never resign," Thomas said last week. "I did nothing wrong.

"I am not going to cave in to pressure based on lies and half truths. If this group continues to disrupt Long Branch, I would retire, but as of right now I have put nothing in writing.

"I am exploring the options that I feel are the best for the public," he said, adding, "I serve Long Branch and I am going to do what is best for Long Branch."

Garden State Equality, an advocacy group for gay and lesbian rights, crowded city hall at recent public meetings in the wake of comments made by Thomas during a hearing on the Strollo's Lighthouse application at the March 18 Planning Board meeting.

The applicant for the Strollo's project is proposing to relocate an outdoor ice cream stand into a residential neighborhood and plans call for the structure to be built in the shape of a lighthouse.

Attorney Fran Mc- Govern, who is representing a group of residents seeking to block the project, asked one of the witnesses for the applicant at the March 18 meeting if he would describe the lighthouse as a "giant phallic symbol."

The witness replied, "I am not of that persuasion. Maybe yours. I don't know. It is a vertical building; that is all I can tell you."W

hen questioning at the hearing started up again, Thomas said to Mc- Govern, "This is an application for a child's dessert shop. Your comments, if you could, please refrain from making any statements extending from your own possible inappropriate sexual preferences from this matter.

"Keep your pedophilia to yourself and stick to the facts," Thomas said.

Later in the meeting, Thomas said, "I apologize for my comments, counsel, and I thank you for sticking to the facts."

Thomas explained in an interview last week that he was accused of linking homosexuality to pedophilia and used the words "sexual preferences," which he was told is a euphemism for homosexuality.

"I did not know that sexual preferences were code words," Thomas said. "I said it referring to the testimony heard before us. I said the things that Mr. Mc- Govern was trying to get us to say.

"He was trying to get a third party to say something to try to throw a wrench into the works to get us down another path, away from the application.

"I fell into it," Thomas said, adding, "I screwed up."

Advocates from Garden State Equality crowded city hall at the April 22 council meeting, and Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider addressed the group and announced that Thomas had advised him that he will be resigning.

"I am sorry it had to come to this," Schneider said. "I have known Ed for 20 years. He put forth hard work.

"He did make a serious mistake five weeks ago. It was clearly inappropriate and I suggested the only resolution is a resignation.

"It is not a pleasant way to end a career of public service," he said, adding, "It is unfortunate."

The announcement of a resignation may have been premature, according to Thomas, who said he has not decided if he will be stepping down from the public seat yet, and if he chooses to, it will be a retirement and not a resignation.

"I never really stepped down," Thomas said. "We are working on setting things straight.

"The more I think about this, the more I see that what this group is asking for is wrong.

"I have apologized and [McGovern] accepted my apology. The only thing [Garden State Equality] will accept is my resignation. They are trying to hurt someone for personal gain.

"Why should Long Branch suffer? I know the ordinances. I know real estate. I know land use.

"I bring a lot of experience, and I did not do anything wrong," he said, adding, "I am exploring options right now. Yes, there is a chance I will remain a member of this board."

Schneider said he learned on Friday, three days after the council meeting, that Thomas may not be stepping down.

"Ed had indicated to me [the day of the council meeting] that he would be stepping down and that he wanted to use the word retire," Schneider said.

"Then I spoke to him Friday and I don't know what is going to happen," he said, adding, "Yes, I think he should step down.

"Not because the remark he made was homophonic. I don't believe a board member should be calling a professional a pedophile. That is inappropriate"

Schneider explained that Thomas is entitled to a hearing to determine if his comments are subject to a removal from the Planning Board.

"He is entitled to a hearing, and council is entitled to a vote," Schneider said. "I don't know how the council would vote. I don't know if there would be enough votes to hold a hearing."

Schneider said that he has received 2,600 e-mails from members of the Garden State Equality group and advocates associated with the cause, saying that they will continue to attend every meeting in Long Branch until Thomas resigns.

"What Thomas has done is subject to interpretation," Schneider said. "It is an offensive comment, but that doesn't make it a homophobic comment.

"There is a debatable claim over whether or not it was a homophobic comment. The advocacy group feels strongly that it is.

"He should resign," Schneider said. "But sending me 2,600 e-mails … I don't like that approach to an issue. I don't like being pressured.

"I am not sure yet what is going to happen now," Schneider added.

Steven Goldstein, chair of Garden State Equality, spoke on behalf of the group at the April 22 council meeting.

"I want to thank Mayor Schneider for his unbelievable leadership in bringing this situation to a resolution," Goldstein said after Schneider announced that Thomas had indicated that he would be stepping down from his seat on the board.

"It is never fun to go after anyone," he said. "We don't enjoy this. Long Branch is a diverse community. We understand that someone's career was at stake, but his words provided immeasurable pain."