By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
SOMERS POINT — Two Republicans and one Democrat were leading the race for three seats on Somers Point City Council, which will have three new members on the seven-member board regardless of who wins.
Republican Joseph McCarrie Jr., a financial manager with public service experience, was ahead of college history teacher Levi Fox by 33 votes, 2,575 to 2,542, as of Saturday, Nov. 7, for the at-large seat held by Councilman Carl D’Adamo for the past 16 years.
McCarrie acknowledged that his lead was small and said now “we just have to wait until all of the votes are counted.”
Fox said Saturday that there were still 399 provisional ballots to be counted by the county, which planned to do so Tuesday, and that the race was too close to call. But whatever the turnout, he and his running mates were happy to see the large amount of voting.
“We’re really pleased by the turnout overall in Somers Point; the numbers are up significantly and anecdotally on Election Day, we saw a lot of young people out voting, which is really gratifying and important to our democracy,” he said.
In Ward I, another political newcomer, Republican Stacy Ferreri, was ahead of local photographer Dan Myers by 141 votes, 1,421 to 1,280.
The highly educated medical professional and veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve would join City Council President Sean McGuigan, Councilwoman Janice Johnston and councilmen Howard Dill and Mike Owen, along with McCarrie, in the majority. It would be Myers’ second straight loss.
Democrat Karen Bruno, a writer and English teacher, was ahead of opponent James Osler by 228 votes, 1,343 to 1,115, in Ward II.
“I want to thank everyone who helped me,” Bruno said. “Our slogan was ‘We are listening’ and I want to continue that. I really want to listen to people.”
Bruno said she was excited to see so many young people voting and “would love to see them get involved in the local government and in the Democratic Party.”
Bruno would replace James Toto, who chose not to seek re-election and decided instead to run for a seat on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, which he appears to have lost.
McCarrie primarily works as a financial manager for Bank of America but also shares his knowledge through presentations at assisted living communities on financial management for seniors and dealing with Medicare/Medicaid from a financial standpoint.
He also served as co-chair of the Alzheimer’s Association in Moorestown, a position he handed off to former Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle and U.S. senator Jon Runyan. He also has given talks on identifying signs of dementia in senior citizens.
Ferreri has lived in the city for about four years. She grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and her family had a second home in the city where they eventually moved permanently. She said she has been visiting the city since the 1980s and met her husband, Francesco Ferreri Jr., through her parents’ interest in boating.
She has six years of U.S. Army Reserve experience, eight years as a critical care nurse and 15 years as a nurse anesthetist “serving our country and the people of the community.”
“I am proud to be a veteran and in the nursing field for over 24 years, and in doing both I have cared for and protected the citizens of our nation,” Ferreri said. “I am a leader, team player and an extremely hard worker with a strong work ethic. I am honest and believe that integrity and accountability are imperative. I am motivated, organized, responsible and not afraid to fight for the citizens of our community.”
Bruno works for Atlantic Cape Community College preparing students to pass the GED, learn skills to return to the workforce or return to college or a professional program. She also writes a weekly history column for The Sentinel newspapers and has won a Philadelphia Press Club Award.
She has worked in the mental health field as a social worker and has taught English to adults from around the world.
“I’ve worked with people from many backgrounds helping them to obtain housing, employment, health services and a good education for their children,” she said.
Bruno is one of the founding members of the Atlantic County Women’s Center, through which she sheltered women and pets in her home. She previously served on the Somers Point Business School Partnership, Art Goes to School, the Parent Teacher Association and the Good Ol’ Days festival committee.