Commissioner Concerns: Serving Monmouth Beach for 95 Years
Monmouth Beach, NJ
The first borough commissioner I ever knew well was Sidney B. Johnson. No surprise there — he was a Monmouth Beach icon. Those familiar with town politics and government will mostly remember Sid Johnson as the town’s sort of “mayor-for-life” — he held the political post for nearly 30 years.
In 1978, he resigned from the commissioner’s board to take a job in the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Once his family-owned fish cold storage business was sold, “I had to find a real job,” he told me.
After his county service, Sidney made a political comeback in 1989. Although I was a political science grad from Monmouth College, I had little practical experience with campaigns and elections. I ended up receiving a fine education, watching Sidney — still a master politician — win a special election that November and return as a commissioner. In 1993, Sid ran unopposed and was elected to another four-year term.
When he really retired in 1997, he had a perfect 10-0 record in Monmouth Beach commission elections. The man who the Asbury Park Press once said “speaks faster then the human ear is capable of hearing” died in March 2001 at age 86. I feel very fortunate to have known him and learned from him.
2024 Borough of Monmouth Beach Leadership — Commissioner Timothy Somers, Mayor David F. Stickle, and Commissioner Larry Bolsch (Jack Flaherty Photo, 2021). Next Borough Election: May 2025. Commissioner’s Contact Info — HERE.
As a journalist — reporter, editor, columnist and now blogger — I’ve been an observer of the Board of Commissioners since the mid-1980s. It’s been a worthwhile pursuit in my recordings of borough heritage.
To me Monmouth Beach is a treasure for many reasons — including the consistency and continuity of its municipal government. Over the past 95 years, according to my research, only 31 residents have been sworn commissioners on the three-member governing body (with 10 from that group being elevated to mayor).
Ever since 1929 Monmouth Beach has operated under the Walsh Act — in which a three-member commission rules municipal government. Non-partisan elections are held in May and commissioners are elected at-large to serve concurrent 4-year terms. The next borough commission election is in May 2025. The current board includes: Mayor David Stickle, Commissioner Larry Bolsch and Commissioner Timothy Somers.
In a peculiar political twist, borough voters don’t actually vote for mayor; not directly. In fact, the mayor’s position is decided by a majority vote of the commission after each election. Done in executive session, those deliberations are confidential. History also records that the top vote-getter and/or most recognized candidate doesn’t always become mayor. Regardless, commissioners know where they stand on swearing-in day.
Officially, the mayor “has responsibility for supervising all departments and the duty to report to the board on any matter requiring its attention,” according to the 1911 Walsh Act, and also “presides over commission meetings but has no veto power over any board action.” Each commissioner oversees a department; currently it’s: Public Affairs, Public Safety & Public Property; Public Works & Parks; and Revenue & Finance. The Revenue & Finance commissioner is the board “vice president” and may perform mayoral duties if the office is vacant.
I’ve learned that being a commissioner is not an easy job. Complete power shared among only three elected officers means it’s hard to hide weakness or spread blame. And most residents know their commissioners and are comfortable engaging them on issues. It’s wise to keep 3,100+ beach lovers content.
“Informing the minds of the people is the duty of a public servant.”
—Thomas Jefferson
Starting in 1906 — the year Monmouth Beach was incorporated — the first borough elections were partisan (Republican vs. Democrat) and government was run by a mayor and six council members. That all changed in September 1929 when borough voters approved a referendum (by 184 to 163) to change to a non-partisan commission form of government. A total of seven candidates ran in the first-ever board of commissioner’s election in October 1929.
Just under 400 residents went to the polls and right from the start they chose wisely. The three originally elected commissioners had real heft: John J. Campbell; first to become mayor after the change in government was also the town’s biggest taxpayer. Samuel Cooper; a member of the just dissolved borough council won the most votes (251) in the first commission election. William Carhart; was the sitting borough clerk who later served as mayor from 1933-1937. Under the new government, the mayor was paid $750 per year, and two commissioners got $500. According to the 2024 Salary Ordinance, commissioner salaries have not increased in 50 years.
In an odd twist, all three members of the newly elected borough commission had last names beginning with the letter “C.” Odder still, the name of first borough clerk under the new government also began with C, Beatrice Cooper (later Ennis). In a cruel display of political fate, though, Councilman Edward McDuffy (he’d strongly advocated for the change in government) finished last in the field of 7 candidates.
* * * * *
Monmouth Beach Board of Commissioners members (1929-Present):
John J. Campbell * William F. Carhart *
Samuel G. Cooper Abram O. Johnson *
William L. Ousterman Fred L. Horner
G. Henry Mihm * Thomas E. Nicholls
Ronald P. Gaarder Morgan Woolley
Sidney B. Johnson * Harold W. Peterson
Clarence B. Cook Raymond M. Tierney
Edwin R. Feste Edwin O. Peterson, Jr.
F. Brent Neale * Louis P. Sodano *
Bruce Bradley Joan Meyer
Anthony M. Villane James P. McConville, III *
James F. Cunniff William C. Barham
Susan Howard * Kimberly A. Guadagno
William J. McBride Jeffrey W. Mitchell, Jr.
David F. Stickle * Timothy Somers
Larry Bolsch
* Mayors
Monmouth Beach Borough Commissioners/Council through the years …
On Board — David Stickle (r) is sworn in a member of the borough board of commissioners as his wife, Lisa, holds the bible, May 2017. Monmouth Beach ’24 Borough Budget — HERE.
Public Improvement — US Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. speaks at the MB Cultural Center on Ocean Avenue about US Army Corps projects in town, November 2023 (Jack Flaherty Photo). Joining Rep. Pallone are the borough commissioners.
Challengers in the 1977 borough commission race. From left, Louis Sodano, Joseph Heimbold and John Schulz, Red Bank Register, May 1977.
’44 Monmouth Beach Borough Commissioners — Mayor A.O. Johnson is in the middle. Long Branch Daily Record, June 1944. The borough’s commission form of government started in October 1929.
Town Leader — Borough Clerk Clarence B. Cook (r) and Roy Olsen, tax assessor (l), November 1964. A varsity wrestler at Rider College, Cook would develop an aptitude for numbers. “No one knew Monmouth Beach finances better,” said Mayor Sidney Johnson. Elected a commissioner in May 1949, Cook won four terms directing town finances until he was appointed borough tax assessor in 1962 and then Borough Clerk in 1964 and held that post until 1968. A long-time borough fireman (he chaired the first Firemen’s Fair in 1937), the Clarence Cook Museum-Building was dedicated in his honor in 1989 (and both his son and grandson were MBFC chiefs). Clarence, a LBHS graduate and WW II veteran, died in February 1979.
First Monmouth Beach borough election sample ballot, April 1906. Fewer than 125 residents voted in the partisan election with the Democrats winning everything. Prior to that first vote, Monmouth Beach was part of Ocean Twp.
New MB Board of Commissioners sworn in by judge. Long Branch Daily Record, May 1945.
Mayor Sue Howard and Commissioners Jim Cunniff and Dave Stickle, 2018.
Commissioner Jim Cunniff, Mayor Sue Howard, and Commissioner Dave Stickle, 2017.
Commissioner Bill McBride, Mayor Sue Howard and Commissioner Jim Cunniff, 2008.
Commissioner Bill McBride and Mayor Sue Howard at a borough swearing-in ceremony, January 2011.
Seated: Mayor Sue Howard. Standing: Borough Clerk Bonnie Moore, Commissioners Kim Guadagno and Jim Cunniff, 2005.
MB commissioner’s election, 1997.
Borough Commissioner Jim Cunniff (l) with then NJ Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, the NJ GOP governor candidate 2017.
MB election, 1997. (APP.com)
MB commissioner’s special election, 1989.
Campaign flyer for Sodano, Meyer, Bradley ticket for MB Commission, May 1989. They ran and won unopposed.
Mayor Louis Sodano and Commissioners Bruce Bradley and Joan Meyer re-elected, 1985.
Mayor Lou Sodano, and Commissioners Joan Meyer and Bruce Bradley celebrate election victory, 1981.
Mayor F. Brent Neale (seated) with Commissioner Louis Sodano, Borough Clerk Bonnie Moore and Commissioner Bruce Bradley (standing l to r) at borough hall, 1980. Sodano and Badley were appointed to the commission within 6 months of each other in 1978.
Replacing a Legend — Bruce Bradley is sworn-in as a borough commissioner, September 1978, replacing Sidney Johnson who resigned. Bradley claimed the seat in his own right winning a special election two months later.
RIP — Commissioner Edwin Feste, obit, Red Bank Daily Record, October 1987.
Mayor Sidney Johnson, 1978.
Commissioner F. Brent Neale, Mayor Sidney Johnson and Commissioner Edwin Peterson celebrate victory, 1977.
Mayor Sidney Johnson, Commissioner F. Brent Neale, and Commissioner Edwin Peterson after victory, 1977. Speaking to the Red Bank Register afterwards, Mayor Johnson called this race the “most vicious campaign” of his political career.
Commissioner Edwin Feste, Mayor Sidney Johnson and Commissioner Harold Peterson re-elected, 1973.
Commissioners Harold Peterson and Raymond Tierney and Mayor Sidney Johnson win unopposed, 1965.
Mayor Sidney Johnson, 1965.
Mayor Sidney Johnson (l) congratulations Raymond Tierney (c) on his appointment as borough commissioner to replace Clarence Cook (r), February 1963.
Commissioner Harold Peterson, Mayor Sidney Johnson and Commissioner Clarence Cook re-elected, 1960s.
Commissioner Clarence Cook, Mayor Sidney Johnson and Commissioner Harold Peterson re-elected, 1961.
Harold Peterson, Sidney Johnson and Clarence Cook sworn in as borough commissioners, 1957.
Clarence Cook, Sidney Johnson, and Harold Peterson ticket elected to borough Board of Commissioners, 1953.
New MB Government: Commissioner Henry Mihm, Mayor Sidney Johnson, and Commissioner Clarence Cook at an borough organization meeting, May 1949.
Campaign flyer for MB Commissioner’s race, 1949.
Victorious Commissioners, Long Branch Daily Record, May 1945.
Monmouth Beach Commissioner’s election, Long Branch Daily Record, April 1945.
Campaign flyer MB Commissioner’s race, 1945.
Campaign card for MB Board of Commissioner’s race, 1941.
MB Commissioner’s race results, 1941
MB Board of Commissioner’s election, 1937. Johnson was appointed mayor. (APP.com)
MB Board of Commissioner’s election, 1933. (APP.com)
MB Board of Commissioner’s election, 1929. (APP.com)
MB voters approve commission form of government, September 1929. (APP.com)
Every Vote Counts — Republican Mayor Manahan tops Democrat Councilman Johnson by 1 vote in the borough mayor’s race. APP, November 1914.
Some neat coverage of the ’14 Monmouth Beach mayor’s race in the Long Branch Daily Record, November 1914.
“Committee Work” — for new Monmouth Beach Mayor Garrett H. White. Long Branch Daily Record, January 1909.
News story about the new form of government in Monmouth Beach, APP October 1929.
More MB Commission related items …
Mayor A.O. Johnson.
Story on the Asbury Park Press, August 1929. (APP.com)
Red Bank Register front page, Sept. 12, 1978.
Ballot for first MB Board of Commissioners election, October 1929.
Monmouth Beach election results, Long Branch Daley Record, November 1926.
Atlanticville front page, March 1989.
Another Time — Jesse P. Manahan when he was a member of the Ocean Township Committee, Long Branch Daily Record, May 1905. At the time both MB and SB were part of Ocean Twp.
Kim Guadagno Inauguration Day front page news, APP January 2010.
Kim Guadagno is sworn by as NJ’s first Lieutenant Governor. January 2010 (Kim was a MB commissioner from 2005-07).
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno after winning the Republican nomination for NJ Governor’s race, 2017 (Kim was a MB commissioner from 2005-07).
Monmouth County Freeholder Bill Barham (l) at a candidate’s debate in Freehold, 2005.
William Barham is sworn in as Monmouth County Freeholder Director, January 2006 (Bill was a MB commissioner from 1997-2005)
William Barham is sworn in as a Monmouth County Freeholder, December 2004. (Bill was a MB commissioner from 1997-2005). At far left is the man he replaced Freeholder Harry Larrison, who died in May 2005.
More:
• Monmouth Beach Mayor’s Gallery — HERE
• Monmouth Beach’s Political Beginnings — HERE
• MB Politics: Johnson & Johnson Style — HERE
