Why I’m Voting No: We’re Finally Putting Residents First, Let’s Keep It That Way

Why the hard push to change our form of government when even commissioners and supporters admit neither option is perfect?  If no form is perfect, why risk the cost, the confusion, and flipping our local system upside down just to hope it works? There’s no guarantee a new form of government will make Bradley Beach better. But there is clear proof that our current form is already improving, because our residents demanded it.

Last night’s council meeting had two big workshops. It was long, but refreshing. For the first time in a long time, residents are being put first. The workshop topics focused on our town’s real issues and concerns, not politics or personalities. The tone felt open, respectful, and productive; the kind of governance we’ve been asking for all along. That didn’t happen by chance. It happened because more and more Bradley Beach residents showed up over the past several years. We used our voices, our votes, and our collective accountability to create positive change under the very form of government we already have.

Supporters of the proposed change keep calling Mayor Gubitiosi a "unicorn" because he is putting in a lot of hours while course correcting. Let's remember the hours he had put in as a councilman over the past years and why we elected him. But let’s also not forget that Larry Fox expanded his office with our tax dollars to spend all of his full time hours there as well.  Here is a clear example of it coming directly down to the people and WHO WE ELECT. It's not about who puts in what time, but the quality of time put in, regardless of what each elected official chooses to put in.

The problems of the past few years weren’t primarily caused by our form of government, they were caused by a leader who ignored it. Former Mayor Larry Fox went directly against our borough form’s framework by handing over excessive authority to the Borough Administrator and disregarding the checks and balances outlined in Chapter 5 of our local laws. That overreach (not the form of government itself) is what created confusion, frustration, and mistrust. 

Throughout his term, both residents and council repeatedly stepped in to stop actions that weren’t in the town’s best interest. Where he did go "rogue" was by disrespecting our form of government itself. He exploited loopholes, ignored the “advice and consent” that our form requires, and blocked council members from accessing professionals clearly designated as shared roles in our system. He wasn’t a product of our form; he was the problem with leadership. It wasn’t the system that failed Bradley Beach. It was the misuse of it. He literally neglected leading in this borough's best interest and we followed proper protocols to challenge it. But we finally corrected it, as a whole community, through elections, through accountability, and through democracy.

Let’s also give credit where it’s due; when that “rogue mayor” period left us questioning our local government, we did what responsible citizens should do, we asked, can we do better? Thanks to the Charter Study Commission members who took on that task with dedication and effort. We invested taxpayer dollars for the commission to research and to dig deeper. That process was healthy and necessary to find what was best for Bradley Beach.  But after all that effort, the answer became clear; having had to stay within Faulkner form, there isn’t a better form of government for a small town like Bradley Beach than what we already have. Small Municipality (Strong Mayor) Faulkner form is really the best suited for us; keeping our voices most direct. We uncovered proof that our system can work when it’s respected and when residents stay engaged. The general consensus at most meetings was “It is who we elect that matters”. 

So instead of tearing it down, let’s build on what we’ve learned. Let’s be proud that we faced dysfunction head-on, studied it thoroughly, and emerged stronger and more informed as a community. That study was for the town. It was NOT a campaign for change. And the town’s takeaway should be pride, not panic.

One of the most common counter arguments is, “But what if we get a rogue mayor again?” and it’s a fair concern, but it’s also a hypothetical fear, not a practical fix. No form of government guarantees good character or wise leadership. If someone unfit is elected or appointed, in any system, the results will always reflect that. In our current form, the people (not a few council votes) hold the power to correct the course. That’s crucial in a small town where electing our top leader should stay as close to the voters as possible.

We’ve already proven that when residents unite, speak up, and vote, real change happens. We don’t need to hand off our power to a structure that buries accountability behind layers of bureaucracy. And yes, anyone could reverse progress if they’re elected and voters disengage. That too is true under every form of government. The solution isn’t to remove direct democracy, it’s to keep showing up and protecting it.

Changing forms of government comes with real cost; financially, administratively, and culturally. It resets the system we’ve worked hard to stabilize. It asks us to trust that a new model will somehow perform better, without any guarantee that it will. Meanwhile, what’s already working is us! The people of Bradley Beach. We proved that when we engaged, when we voted, and when we started showing up to meetings demanding better. So the question becomes: Why risk it and why pay for it, just to keep our fingers crossed hoping it will work?

Bradley Beach doesn’t need a new form of government to thrive (unless we found a golden form of course). We just need to keep improving the one we have with the same engagement, unity, and accountability that got us here. That's the clearest guarantee we have.

We've most recently elected a Mayor and council who are listening, as our residents guide the way forward, and we have progress in motion. Let’s not derail it. I’m voting NO, and not to resist change, but to PROTECT THE REAL CHANGE WE HAVE ALREADY MADE. Bradley Beach is moving in the right direction. Let’s stay the course, stay engaged, and keep our town strong together.

Here is a video to show you how far WE, the BB residents, have already come. Let's keep it going. https://youtu.be/82WXQCafyAw?si=kwWQA2LzcB7hC3SR

See you in the sand…let’s stay kind to one another.

Photo: Bradley Beach Promenade, via https://issuu.com/newjerseyrealtor/docs/njr_julaug2024_issuu_final/s/53105156

Written and edited by Brigitte McGuire, used Ai for organization and flow.