Public speaks up for Bender, but GOP taps former Linwood mayor
SOMERS POINT — Republicans cited his lengthy government experience in appointing Richard DePamphilis to the open Ward I seat Feb. 24, despite strong support for another nominee.
“I have known Mr. DePamphilis for a long time. He does have roots here in Somers Point and I believe his experience in knowing how government works will be a big help,” City Council President Janice Johnston said.
Members voted 4-1 in favor of DePamphilis over Democrat Lisa Bender. Councilman Howard Dill was absent. Two other nominees, Joseph W. Keyes and Robert Hopkins, did not even speak for themselves.
The seat was open due to two recent resignations. Former Councilwoman Stacy Ferreri resigned in January, one year into her term. She did not return calls seeking comment.
City Council then 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.
Six of the seven council members — all but Democrat Karen Bruno — admitted they knew about Adams’ felonious past before voting to appoint the 60-year-old.
City solicitor Tom Smith said Feb. 10 that the process for replacing Adams would be different than it was for replacing Ferreri.
Ferreri had been elected to the Ward I seat but Adams was appointed. In Ferreri’s case, the Somers Point Republican Club was tasked with providing three options for City Council to choose among. To replace Adams, though, anyone regardless of party could be nominated.
DePamphilis brings a wealth of experience with him from Linwood, where he served as mayor from 2002 through 2019, when he decided not to seek re-election. He served on the Board of School Estimate, the Redevelopment Committee and the Planning Board and was recognized in the New Jersey State League of Municipalities Mayors Hall of Fame.
Bender, a 45-year-old small-business owner, environmental activist and community volunteer who served in AmeriCorps, had the support of all those who spoke Thursday evening, as well as others who signed a petition provided to City Council. She also collected 794 of 1,830 votes cast in the last Ward I election when facing Johnston.
She spoke first about her qualifications for serving, saying good communication is key to effective government.
“Every action I take has a community outreach component, so it has been crucial for me to effectively communicate with the citizens of Somers Point,” she said. “In the work that I have done I have learned that transparency and efficiency are required for government and communication is the backbone of both of those things.”
Bender noted the importance of volunteers to running a city.
“It’s really important to get people actively participating in government. A lot of people have told me they need volunteers. If we are actively and effectively communicating, they may actively participate,” she said.
Bender said she is the most qualified candidate.
“I’m hoping you all will pick the best person for the job over political affiliation. Most of you know that I could do the job very well,” she said.
DePamphilis, attending the meeting from home via Zoom, said he and his wife moved back to Somers Point a couple of years ago.
“We certainly aren’t strangers to Somers Point,” he said, noting he lived on Johnson Avenue for seven years, during which time he coached Little League and junior football.
“I bring about 35 years of public service experience to council and I would certainly be honored to serve on Somers Point City Council,” DePamphilis said.
Support for Bender
Massachusetts Avenue resident Carol Zerbe said Bender would be better for the job because Somers Point is very different than its more affluent neighbor Linwood. She said the city is multilingual, multicultural and some families suffer from food insecurity, suggesting DePamphilis never had to address such issues.
“This all makes our community very different than Linwood and Northfield,” she said. “And therefore we need someone on City Council who is going to be there for our families, for our children, and that person is Lisa Bender.”
Ann Marie Gibbs of Sunny Avenue said the process is intended to be nonpartisan and offers a chance for unity.
“The recent debacle was embarrassing, it was harmful, and I think it’s very important for us all just to do the right thing. Let’s not take sides. Let’s be the town that can work together no matter what, and I believe that we can be,” Gibbs said.
Theresa Dougherty of Dogwood Drive read a petition she circulated and provided to City Council.
“We do not get a vote in who will be become our next Somers Point City Council member, but we can try to join our voices together to urge the current Somers Point City Council to do what they know is the right thing, and vote Lisa Bender into the vacant Council seat,” she said. “There can be no question that Lisa Bender has the most comprehensive, relevant and recent experience to deal with the issues now at hand for the community of Somers Point, as well as the passion, energy and fresh perspective that we desperately need.”
It had the signatures of 30 people.
Former City Council candidate Dan Meyers read a letter from Kim O’Brien, president of the Somers Point Democratic Club.
“I was proud to team up with the Somers Point Republican Club to fight to keep the city in Legislative District 2. Our partnership was successful and I look forward to more opportunities to support our city together,” the letter stated.
“We have one right now. A passionate and very qualified candidate, Lisa Bender, has applied to replace Ken Adams for City Council. Lisa is educated, energetic and an out-of-the-box thinker. She has extensive experience in grant writing, green initiatives and marketing. When she ran for city council in 2021 790 residents voted for Lisa Bender. City Council can support the best interests of Somers Point by appointing Lisa Bender.”
In casting her vote for Bender, Councilwoman Karen Bruno, the board’s only Democrat, said “Lisa is an amazing person. She has worked tirelessly in Somers Point.
“I know how hard it is to vote for a candidates not in your party — I did it the last time we were here doing this. I just hope you have the courage to vote for who is better for Somers Point,” Bruno said.
Councilman Joseph McCarrie said “it’s always tough to vote someone into an office when you have such great talent to choose from. I think we are very fortunate in the city that we do have great talent. I’m going to go with Richard L. DePamphilis III,” he said, as if he were barely familiar with the name.
Councilman Sean McGuigan, always one to speak if given the opportunity, said he is “very familiar with Lisa Bender and her accomplishments and thank her for all of that passion and all of those contributions. All that being said, we do have a gentleman who is very experienced and I am going to vote for Richard DePamphilis.”
DePamphilis appeared pleased with his appointment, celebrating after being sworn in with a glass of dark red liquid, his first act as a Somers Point city councilman.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff