From left, Commissioner and Acting Mayor Lance Landgraf, former Mayor Beth Holtzman, Acting City Administrator Maria Mento and Commissioner Tim Kriebel, Jan. 26, 2023.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR Acting Mayor and Commissioner of Public Works and Code Enforcement Lance Landgraf announced Friday morning in a city newsletter that he intends to serve as mayor for the remainder of former Mayor Beth Holtzman's term, which expires in May 2024.
Holtzman resigned from the Board of Commissioners as of Feb. 9. She is moving out of town and will reside in Galloway Township.
On Thursday, Feb. 23, the board will swear in Acting Administrator Maria Mento to fill Holtzman's commission seat until the next General Election on Nov. 7.
After Mento is sworn in, the board will vote to appoint a new mayor presumably Landgraf who will also be required to take the oath of office to serve as mayor. Landgraf said he intends to serve as mayor until the next non-partisan election, which will be held in May 2024.
If she decides to continue her new role as commissioner after November, Mento will be required to file a nominating petition to run in the November election as a non-partisan candidate for Ventnor City Commission.
The deadline to file a candidate's petition is Sept. 5. Other candidates who want to challenge Mento, will also be required to file a petition by the deadline. Whoever wins the November election will serve the remainder of Holtzman's unexpired term.
I look forward to serving as mayor for the remainder of Mayor Holtzman's term and anticipate continuing to move our city in a positive direction, Landgraf said in the newsletter. I will strive for continued responsible fiscal management, maintenance of our infrastructure systems and to encourage new development in our city that increases our ratable base.
Landgraf said he would continue to support all city employees to help them provide first rate services to our residents and visitors.
Landgraf thanked residents for their support of Holtzman and the Imagine Ventnor team over the last seven years, and for their support of Mento, who was hired as acting city administrator shortly after the Imagine Team took office in 2016.
Without that support we, as a community, would not have been able to accomplish so many things in a very short amount of time and to continue that effort moving forward, Landgraf said. What we all have imagined has started to show its colors. A vibrant business community, improvements to our infrastructure, fiscal oversight that is holding each department accountable, recreational and entertainment opportunities for all ages, and an overall positive, we-can-do-this attitude, that I believe has spread throughout our city.
