Friends of Margate, from left, Maury Blumberg, Cathy Horn and Michael Collins.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE Two of three city commissioners have announced they will not run for another term on the Margate governing body and introduced the Friends of Margate slate of candidates for the May 9 Board of Commissioners election.
Mayor Michael Becker and Commissioner John Amodeo have each said it's time for younger residents to take over governance of Margate.
Commissioner Maury Blumberg will run on the Friends of Margate slate with two new candidates who are already leaders in the community businessman Michael Collins and school board President Catherine Horn.
Other candidates interested in challenging them have until March 6 to file a nominating petition with the city clerk.
It's time, Becker, 85, said. I'm not going to live forever and it's time to take some time off and spend it with my wife, children and grandchildren. It's time to back off and get some youngsters involved in city government.
Becker said it was a difficult decision to make, but after 38 years in public service, there's not much more he can give.
I spent a lot of time working on behalf of the city I love 22 years on the school board and 16 years on the Board of Commissioners. If I could have given more, I would have.
Becker said he is proud of the status of the city and the changes made over his tenure to improve the quality of life for residents.
Amodeo also thinks it's time for younger residents to take over.
As much as I love doing the job, after 22 years in government, it's time for a new generation to step up to move the city forward, the 75-year-old former assemblyman said.
He served seven years as a council member in Linwood before moving back to Margate, six years in the NJ General Assembly and eight years as Margate commissioner.
Amodeo also said he is proud of all the city has accomplished since Hurricane Sandy, including adopting and implementing a new Master Plan, restoring Historic City Hall, renovating the Municipal Building and Firehouse No. 2, raising bulkheads and building a promenade on the bayside, and upgrading water, sewer and utility infrastructure.
Amodeo said the future of the city belongs to younger residents who are raising their families in Margate and sending their children to the public schools.
That's our year-round population. They should be the leaders in the next decade or two and making decisions on behalf of the city.
Amodeo said when he and Becker discussed stepping down, it became evident that there were great candidates to run with Blumberg and several were interviewed before obtaining their commitments. It was important to get a woman on the non-partisan team, he said.
Collins, Amodeo's son-in-law, and Horn, who is currently president of the Margate City Board of Education, will run on a ticket with Blumberg, whom they consider the elder statesman.
Maury Blumberg
Blumberg was first elected to the city commission in 2007 and has served as Commissioner of Revenue and Finance and is seeking his fifth term on the non-partisan board.
I love the job, the people, the great employees and along with Mike and Cathy, I'm hoping to build on the tremendous progress we have seen over the years in making Margate the most desired place in the country to live and call home, he said. This is where I grew up, Laurie and I raised our girls and most importantly, I love this town.
According to his biography, he has been able to hold the line on staffing levels and as Commissioner of Revenue and Finance boasts six consecutive years with no municipal tax rate increase. He is also a former Zoning Board member.
Blumberg said he is committed to making Margate the best place for year-round families, summer residents and visitors.
He is Vice-president of Sales and Engineering for his family-owned company, Jersey Architectural Door & Supply, Inc. He previously worked at Honeywell International.
Born and raised in Margate, Blumberg attended the city schools, graduated third in his class at Holy Spirit High School where he excelled in athletics, and earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he played varsity baseball.
He is a longtime member of the Margate Little League and has coached girls' basketball and softball. He is also a member of the Board of Best of Chai in Atlantic City. He recently retired from the U.S. Over-Forty Baseball League.
He and his wife Laurie have two adult daughters.
Michael Collins
Collins is the owner and general manager of Colmar True Value hardware store, Colmar Kitchen Studio, and the UPS Store, with locations in Margate, North Cape May and will soon open a third store in Cape May Courthouse. He has won numerous business awards, was named the Home Channel News 2014 Hardware Store All Star, and received True Value's Best Hardware Store In Town award in 2015.
He graduated from Villanova University in Pennsylvania with bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering, where he later taught mechanical engineering as an adjunct professor.
Before joining the family business, Collins was an aerospace engineer working on next-generation flight systems, including the On-Orbit Repair for the Space Shuttle program. He was a member of the Beach Patrol for five years and serves on its Pension Board.
Collins, a lifelong resident, said he cares deeply about the city.
I believe that there is no better place to raise a family, and I want to ensure that future generations are able to share my experience. My background as a Margate small business owner, along with my involvement on various boards, committees and in youth sports programs, showcases my dedication to this community. I intend to bring energy and new ideas to preserve and elevate the quality of life for all of Margate's residents."
His volunteer activities include being a board member of the Margate Business Association, vice-president of the Walter Ed Vizthum Scholarship Fund, board member for Assumption Regional Catholic School in Galloway Township and is currently president of the Margate Republican Club. He coaches the city's youngest athletes in baseball, basketball and soccer, and is founder and co-director of the Margate Cornhole League.
He and his wife Amy have five young children.
Catherine Horn
Horn, a school psychologist at Atlantic City High School, has lived in Margate for more than two decades. She was appointed to the Board of Education in 2013, was elected vice-president in 2016 and president in 2018. She is a member of the Board of School Estimate.
She said she hopes to use her experience in organizational leadership, facilitating public meetings, developing agendas, negotiating employee contracts, creating policies, overseeing budgets and communicating with the public to benefit the city.
I will apply my knowledge of leading the school board at the city level to maintain and expand quality work done at City Hall, Public Works, Recreation Department and the fire and police departments, she said. Working in tandem with other commissioners, my goal will be to address the needs of local residents and summer visitors alike.
She graduated from Rutgers University in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in psychology, and obtained a master's degree from Seton Hall University in counseling psychology. She started her career in the psychology program at AtlantiCare (formerly known as Atlantic City Medical Center). While working there, she continued her education and obtained a second master's degree and was certificated as an educational specialist. She has counseled students at ACHS since 2000.
She is a member of Holy Trinity Parish, participated in the Margate Mothers' Association and the Margate Education Foundation. She recently established a scholarship fund in memory of former board member Tracy Santoro, who died suddenly last summer.
She can frequently be found on the sidelines of the lacrosse field where she serves the Riptides as a volunteer and booster.
She and her husband Sam have three sons.
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