From left, Mayor Lance Landgraf, Elvis, and Commissioners Maria Mento and Tim Kriebel at National Night Out.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR The Imagine Ventnor Team Saturday announced their candidacy in the non-partisan municipal election being held May 14 to select the next Board of Commissioners. Challengers have until the end of February to file nominating petitions to get on the ballot.
The team consisting of current commissioners Lance Landgraf, Tim Kriebel and Maria Mento are planning to kick-off their campaign at an event being held Jan. 27 at Nucky's Kitchen and Speakeasy, where they will share their accomplishments over the past eight years.
Our goal is to enhance the quality of life in Ventnor, and together, with our complimentary skills and ability to find common ground, we have achieved positive outcomes in every important aspect of the city since 2016," they said in a press release.
Landgraf is a professional planner who is director of planning and development for the CRDA, Kriebel is a designer who works for Colmar Kitchen and Home Center in Margate, and Mento retired as chief financial officer at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority.
Our common objective remains making Ventnor an attractive community for families, second homeowners, and a friendly destination for visitors, they said.
The original team included Beth Holtzman who resigned from her position as mayor early last year. Mento, whom they appointed as acting administrator shortly after they were seated on the board in 2016, was appointed to fill Holtzman's seat until the November 2023 election. She ran unopposed and was elected to fill the remainder of Holtzman's term. She joins the team to continue serving as a commissioner over the next four years.
With the addition of our longtime Business Administrator Maria Mento as commissioner, our team is committed to building on the successful formula that has transformed Ventnor into the vibrant shore town we envision, the statement said.
The team won the 2016 election with a 2-1 margin, and ran unopposed for a second four-year term in 2020.
The team plans to carry on programs, refine policies, fine-tune procedures, and play on their strengths, they said. Landgraf has prioritized intelligent infrastructure projects, Mento skillfully managed budgets to keep Ventnor affordable, and Kriebel plays a key role in enhancing the city's appearance when designing new municipal structures, improving boardwalk banners and the city's website.
In the next four years, we anticipate new challenges and obstacles, but the Imagine Ventnor Team is fully prepared to not only meet, but exceed the expectations of all residents and stakeholders, they said.
The May 14 municipal non-partisan election timeline published by the NJ State Department notes that anyone interested in running for a four-year term on the board must submit a nominating petition to the City Clerk before the deadline, 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29.
Voters will have until May 7 to request a mail in ballot. Sample ballots will be mailed to voters on May 8. The deadline for mail-in ballots postmarked by the end of Election Day to be received by the Atlantic County Board of Elections is May 20.
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