3 Win In Asbury Park Council Election, Unofficial Results Say

ASBURY PARK – Three won the Asbury Park Council election, according to unofficial results.

Deputy Mayor Amy Quinn, Councilwoman Yvonne Clayton and Councilwoman Eileen Chapman easily defeated Kerry Butch, Felicia Simmons, Robert McKeon and Arthur Schlosssbach.

Monmouth County officials said approximately 97 percent of election night/mail-in ballots have been processed. Approximately 48 percent of ADA machine ballots have been processed. Provisional ballots are pending.

Here was the vote breakdown as of Wednesday:

• Amy Quinn 3,055; 22.89 percent
• Yvonne Clayton 2,974; 22.28 percent
• Eileen Chapman 2,762; 20.69 percent
• Felicia Simmons 1,623; 12.16 percent
• Kerry Butch 1,213; 9.09 percent
• Robert M. McKeon 952; 7.13 percent
• Arthur Schlossbach 758; 5.68 percent

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Quinn, Chapman and Clayton formed a team called "Asbury Together," noting on their website that the Rev. David J. Parreott, Jr. expressed support for them.

"A lot of people said they'd work to revitalize the Springwood Avenue corridor, but this team of people actually brought together the parties needed to make it happen. It makes me so proud to look at our beautiful park and new construction of affordable housing at Boston Way and the Renaissance," he said on the website.

Clayton said: "We promised to prioritize revitalization of the Springwood Avenue neighborhood and then worked tirelessly to deliver. Actions speak louder than words."

Small business owner Kathy Kelly, on the website, said the Asbury Together team "does an amazing job of walking that tightrope. They study the issues affecting our city, listen and engage, make the hard decisions with transparency, try their best to bring all concerned to the table, and tweak when need be."

Quinn said the ban on plastic bags was met with some strong opposition, but "it was the right thing to do for the ocean and environment."

"Our regulation of short term-rentals met with resistance in certain quarters, but it was the right thing to do for the preservation of affordable housing," she said. "We adopted some of the most progressive affordable housing ordinances in the state."

Chapman added, "We stood with the residents over reconstruction of the boardwalk, and then facilitated working with the waterfront developer to make the plan better. And we've also demonstrated that we will challenge the state when the livelihood of Asbury Park is at stake."

Schlosssbach said he believes the mayor and council are doing a "OK job," but because of their backgrounds, there is a need to have a person with strong business experience.

"There are over 300 small business in Asbury Park and I am that person with over 40-year small business experience," he said. "The need to get the streets fixed. There are so many streets and avenues that are like driving in a war zone."

He also would like to establish a business improvement district.

See our full election coverage for New Jersey on our topic page.