SOMERS POINT — Two incumbents are facing a challenge from political newcomers in the City Council election Nov. 7.
Councilman Richard DePamphilis III and AnnMarie Gibbs are seeking the seat representing Ward I, while Councilwoman Karen Bruno and Charlie Haberkorn are vying for the Ward II seat.
The governing body has six members in two wards plus an at-large representative of the entire city. Members are elected to three-year terms on a rotating basis.
Ward I
DePamphilis, a longtime former mayor of Linwood, was appointed Feb. 24, 2022, to fill the seat left vacant when former councilwoman Stacy Ferreri resigned the previous month, one year into her term.
City Council had unanimously appointed Ken Adams on Jan. 27 to take her place. However, Adams was forced to resign Feb. 3 because it was revealed that his felony conviction in 2004 for theft and misconduct while chief of the Northfield Police Department barred him from serving. Every member of council but Bruno admitted to knowing of Adams’ felonious past before casting their vote.
The 74-year-old and his wife of 51 years, Sally, have four children and nine grandchildren.
DePamphilis earned a bachelor’s degree in historical studies and a teaching certificate from Stockton University. He now works for Thomas United Inc., a food service company in Egg HarborTownship.
DePamphilis was a police officer and beach patrol chief in Longport as well as a security shift manager at Caesars Atlantic City. He was mayor of Linwood for 18 years, during which time he served on the Planning Board and Board of School Estimate.
He also was a coach and president of several youth sports associations, including three seasons as coach of Somers Point Sharks pee wee football team.
“I have served every community I have lived in. I enjoy public service very much. I like working with residents on important issues and helping when assistance may be needed. Serving provides me great pleasure and personal satisfaction,” DePamphilis said.
He said he has acquired leadership skills through experience and education that allow him to perform in a professional manner.
“I understand how to motivate personnel to perform up to their potential. I believe I am a good judge of character and talent in others,” he said.
DePamphilis said the top issue in Somers Point is high property taxes.
“Every year the necessities required to maintain a certain lifestyle cost more. As expected, every year the necessities required to maintain the services the city provides to its residents cost more. City Council must continue to look to ways to increase revenue,” he said.
He believes the best way to do that is through re-development of Bay Avenue.
“We need to designate the commercial sections of Bay Avenue a re-development zone. Bay Avenue is a jewel that needs to be enhanced. We need to create an atmosphere that encourages development of empty spaces and blighted areas. Through re-development, the city will have great input on what can happen where, ensuring that Somers Point gains much-needed revenue while maintaining the character of our great city,” DePamphilis said.
Gibbs said she does not like to talk about herself, preferring to “hear and help others.”
“However, knowing this is important for our Democrats to be a part of Somers Point and Atlantic County, I am running for City Council in Ward I,” she said.
Gibbs has lived in Somers Point for 20 years and in Atlantic County for more than 30 years after growing up in Massachusetts and living in Somerset County.
She is one of nine children in her family and has dozens of nieces and nephews all over the country.
“As a single woman, I find that this town is a great place to live and work and connect with many people of many backgrounds,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and psychology from Rutgers University and taught science in Middlesex and Sussex county schools.
“My heart is that of a teacher and a communicator,” she said.
Gibbs is a life-long learner, having earned credits toward a master’s degree in psychology at Stockton University. She continues to take environmental courses offered by Rutgers, saying climate change is an important issue for “our area, country and planet.”
In addition to teaching, Gibbs has been a professional real estate agent for more than three decades, helping many people with the “stresses and joys of homeownership.”
“I believe its is important for families and communities to have ownership. It usually brings attention to the quality of our education systems, safety, recreation and values,” she said.
This is her first run for public office, but she has been involved with serving children and adults at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church and served on various local boards, such as JustBe Farm, Atlantic Prevention Resources and the Atlantic County Board of Realtors, as a volunteer, as well as in leadership roles in her professional life.
“My primary reason for running is that I believe we should have more transparency with issues in our area, such as taxes, being green, caring for all socioeconomic people in our melting pot community — notably seniors, children, families, as well as our renters and second-home owners and primary homeowners,” she said, noting she is a good communicator and problem solver.
“Keeping a balance of open-minded, educated and ‘civil’ servants — both Democratic and Republican — is important. We need to listen and to respond to what is best for the many being served,” she said. “I am hoping to have this opportunity to give back. I am very aware that we need to progress with things that matter to keeping Somers Point beautiful, safe and a place people want to live and grow,” Gibbs said.
Ward II
Bruno is running for re-election to a second term representing Ward II. The single mother raised her son in the city and was involved in many school activities.
Bruno is a senior citizen who cared for her parents for 10 years, “so I have a strong understanding of the lack of support for seniors in our community and ideas for addressing these.”
The Stockton University graduate is one of the founding members of the Atlantic County Women’s Center.
“That was my first experience with community involvement and the skills I learned serve me to this day,” she said. “There were absolutely no resources then. We sheltered women in our homes. The term ‘domestic violence’ was new. We barely had language to communicate what we were doing and there weren’t even books on the topic.”
Bruno said she helped train police officers throughout the county on responding to domestic violence incident.
“I learned then that if something needs to be done, you have to figure out a way to do it,” she said.
Bruno also served as a social worker and a mental health advocate throughout the county.
“I know how limited our resources are and how communities need to work together to provide services to keep people healthy,” she said.
Bruno said there was so much that she wanted to accomplish during her first term, but “as the lone Democrat, it was difficult.”
She said a bipartisan system is a requirement for a strong democracy. Republicans have controlled City Council for decades.
“I don’t understand why Somers Point voters don’t see the danger of having a one-party system; it’s un-American and it doesn’t work,” she said.
Bruno said the city has a lot of serious problems right now that are not being addressed.
“The homeless population is growing. Families are struggling to meet expenses. Senior services are lacking,” she said. “We need to build low-income housing. This comes up over and over again and it just keeps getting ignored and it’s been ignored for years. Again, a one party system isn’t working,” she said.
Bruno said like many people, she struggles to meet expenses and is frustrated that taxes keep rising. However, she said there are things that are essential to operating a city.
“I personally feel that we need more police. In that last 10 years, I’ve been robbed three times,” she said. “But every time we try to hire someone new, even for positions that are empty and already in the budget, there’s strong public protest about doing this.”
She said the most important thing residents can do to affect change is vote.
“I would love to see more people involved in government, especially more younger people,” she said, noting her desire to resume broadcasting meetings via Zoom.
“This afforded young mothers, people who can’t drive at night and many other people an opportunity to be a part of City Council,” she said.
Bruno said she also would like to have a more accessible website that invites citizens to be more a part of the community.
“A simple thing like having a user-friendly calendar that makes it easier for people to become more a part of Somers Point could have a dramatic impact,” she said.
Haberkorn, 65, is co-chairman of the city’s Economic Development Advisory Commission and serves on the Somers Point Board of Education, as well as a member of Lawson’s Pride, a local group that support the U.S. Coast Guard.
He has been married for 42 years and has two children and five grandchildren.
The graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland has more than 40 years of experience in the food manufacturing industry, where he learned management and leadership skills. He now is owner of Somers Bay Consulting Services.
Haberkorn said he would like to serve to bring transparency to the City Council.
“One must be willing to do research and listen to the residents of the city to provide leadership,” he said.
Haberkorn said he is skilled in budgeting, forecasting, strategic planning and continuous improvement, “all skills required to make decisions for the short-term and long-term success of Somers Point.”
The main issue the city is facing is “maintaining the heritage of Somers Point while adapting to the future,” he said. “That means keeping Somers Point affordable for all of our residents.”
Haberkorn said the city must work to create sensible uses for Bay Avenue that are environmentally friendly and allow for responsible development and recreational use.
He thinks this can be accomplished by long-term planning. He recommends creation of a 10-year plan that includes public forums in each neighborhood to get resident input and a yearly review.
“Using the public forum provides residents the ability to have a voice. As a portion of the plan, heritage and affordability, City Council must look for new sources of income while maintaining our heritage, and continually look to manage cost,” Haberkorn said. “Increased revenues and innovation on managing cost is paramount. Utilizing rational and respectful thoughts, City Council can and will make the best decisions for Somers Point.”
School board races
Incumbent John Shields is running unopposed for his seat representing Somers Point on the Mainland Regional High School Board of Education.
Two incumbents and a newcomer are seeking three seats on the Somers Point school board. Police officer Nick Wagner and physical therapist Kathleen Dolton are seeking re-election, while Judson Moore is seeking his first term on the school board.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff