SOMERS POINT — Former City Councilman Dennis Tapp has announced his candidacy for mayor of Somers Point after longtime Mayor Jack Glasser decided not to seek another term.
“I hope to utilize my extensive experience on City Council and my passion for serving my community to help move Somers Point forward while bringing positive changes to the city and the municipal government,” Tapp stated in a news release.
Glasser is serving his fourth consecutive term as mayor. He won an unexpired term on City Council in 2006. The next year he ran for mayor to replace Dan Reilly, who was stepping down, and won. He won his second term as mayor in 2011 with 75 percent of the vote and his third term in 2015. He ran unopposed in 2019.
“My time has come,” Glasser said Monday evening. “I have had 16 great years as mayor of the great city of Somers Point.”
The 69-year-old said he has two new grandchildren, his first two, and wants to spend a lot more time with them.
“I think it’s time for new leadership and I think Dennis Tapp is the person,” Glasser said.
Tapp moved to Somers Point in 1985 and has witnessed the city’s strengths and challenges firsthand.
He and his wife, Cheryl, have three children and five grandchildren. All three of their children were raised in Somers Point and graduated from Mainland Regional High School.
Tapp is a retired member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 351. Having served 37 years, he has been retired for seven years and now puts his skills to work rehabbing homes in the community.
According to a news release from campaign manager Sean McGuigan, who currently serves Ward 1 on City Council, Tapp’s decision to run for mayor stems from a “genuine desire to increase his already wide-ranging involvement and to address the pressing issues that impact the community.”
The release states Tapp offers a “unique blend of leadership skills, strategic thinking and a collaborative approach that has been instrumental in driving successful initiatives in the past.”
It states Tapp has “consistently demonstrated his dedication to public service,” adding he played a “pivotal role in shaping key policies, fostering economic growth and advocating for the interests of the residents.”
Tapp served as council president in 2016, when according to the release he directed the effort to revitalize and transform the Atlantis Apartments — a dilapidated and problem-ridden area — into the Bayview Court complex.
“Tapp’s experience in navigating complex government processes and building consensus will be invaluable in leading Somers Point toward a prosperous and sustainable future,” the release states.
“Somers Point is a wonderful place to live and to raise a family. My commitment to this community and its citizens is well known; I look forward to continuing to work hard and to work smart as the city’s mayor,” Tapp said.
In addition to his time on City Council, Tapp has been involved in the community, including many youth activities. He was a coach of street hockey, baseball and basketball while serving in leadership roles as president of the street hockey and basketball organizations. He is a current trustee of the Somers Point Historical Society.
According to the release, Tapp spearheaded efforts to build a second street hockey rink, a modern snack stand with a restroom at the girls softball field and rebuild the Gateway Theater while saving the taxpayers untold amounts by utilizing and organizing armies of volunteers.
Tapp was named the Somers Point Recreation Volunteer of the Year in 1998 and was first elected to City Council in 2003. He was re-elected in 2009, 2012 and 2015.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff