News
Newcomers Take Council Seats In Little Silver
By John Burton
LITTLE SILVER - "It's a nice story," Daniel J. O'Hern Jr. said on Wednesday, the morning after he won a seat on the Borough Council.
"The nice thing about the election this year," O'Hern said, by way of explanation, "is that there was a contested election, people had a choice."
On Tuesday borough voters chose O'Hern, a Democrat, and Daniel Levine, an independent, for the two council seats, selecting the two first-time candidates over nearly two-decade incumbent Republican Rick DeNoia Jr. and fellow Republican incumbent William Morris Jr.
In the past number of years, the borough has not seen much in the way of contested elections (though last year there was a challenge for the mayor's office). But this year running against the two incumbents were O'Hern, 47, an attorney, and Levine, 69, who owns and operates Little Silver Community Hardware, and another independent candidate, Anthony Trufolo Jr., a local construction contractor.
As of Wednesday morning the unofficial totals listed with the county's Clerk of Election were: DeNoia, 1,390; Morris 1,223; Levine, 1,540; O'Hern, 1,681; and Trufulo with 606.
"I was pleasantly surprised," O'Hern said of the totals. "I think I got a lot of cross-party support."
By some estimates, Republicans have retained a total control of the six-member council for more than 20 years, qualifying this as a political upset.
"I'm kind of a little surprised by that myself," Levine acknowledged on Wednesday.
Both O'Hern and Levine said they weren't running in opposition to anyone or any agenda, with both insisting those who are serving and DeNoia and Morris are well-intended and dedicated public servants.
"I didn't have any particular bone to pick with the council," O'Hern said. "I just strongly believe in the two-party form of government."
"You need some checks and balances," Levine said.
And hopefully the council's Republican majority - which includes a Republican mayor - will heed that message, Levine explained. "The message is so loud and so clear I hope the administration looks at that and maybe rethinks," Levine said.
Levine said he is really looking forward to what he sees as the next stage of his life - this role in public service and, "to give back."
"I ran really because I wanted to serve," O'Hern added, echoing Levine's sentiments.
Late on Tuesday, a disappointed DeNoia offered some sanguine observations over the election's outcome. "I believe in Democracy," he noted. "And the people have spoken, and I wish them (the councilmen-elect) well."
"Anything I can do to assist them, they need only ask," DeNoia offered. "I love Little Silver."
DeNoia, an attorney, has been serving on the council for 19 years. DeNoia's running mate Morris (who was not immediately available for comment Wednesday morning) had been named this summer to fill an unexpired term, with this election marking his first run for office.
