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Zipprich and Lewis Pledge Continued Dedication
Ed Zipprich and Juanita Lewis pledge to continue what they've stared on the borough council.
By Edward Van Embden Email the author November 8, 2011
At a candidates night last month, incumbent Democratic council members Ed Zipprich and Juanita Lewis criticized the Republican challengers for failing to make an appearance at a single public meeting. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise Tuesday night, when the votes failed to appear for the Republicans.
Zipprich and Lewis defended their seats, besting Mary Grace Cangemi and Joe Mizzi to maintain an all-Democratic lineup on the Red Bank Council. Though early results showed a tightly contested race, the two incumbents won by a healthy margin when all the votes were tallied.
According to the county election results page, Zipprich earned 1,111 votes and Lewis registered 983. In third and fourth place, Cangemi and Mizzi received 875 and 775 votes, respectively. Write-in candidates earned nine votes.
At Democratic headquarters on Front Street, Zipprich and Lewis, in front of a crowd, enthusiastic prior to the revelation that District 11 legislative candidates had been beaten by the Republican incumbents, pledged to continue on with what they started in their first terms on council.
“Red Bank has decided that Ed and I should continue what we started, and that feels really good,” Lewis said. “It’s really about all of you, and us being committed to continuing what we started. The training wheels are off, we’re on a two-wheeler now.”
Attempted to reach both Cangemi and Mizzi were unsuccessful late Tuesday night. Republicans attended a campaign party at the American Hotel in Freehold.
Zipprich said the reelection would allow he and Lewis to continue on with several great ideas. It’s never easy to go through an election, he said, but in the end, it’s what both he and Lewis felt obligated to do.
“Juanita and I sat down this spring and had a very serious conversation about whether we would do this again. We decided there at that lunch that we had a commitment to Red Bank,” he said. “We are very pleased that the democratic system works in Red Bank.”
Re-Elect Lewis & Zipprich to Red Bank Council
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Zipprich and Lewis Pledge Continued Dedication
Ed Zipprich and Juanita Lewis pledge to continue what they've stared on the borough council.
By Edward Van Embden Email the author November 8, 2011
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At a candidates night last month, incumbent Democratic council members Ed Zipprich and Juanita Lewis criticized the Republican challengers for failing to make an appearance at a single public meeting. Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a surprise Tuesday night, when the votes failed to appear for the Republicans.
Zipprich and Lewis defended their seats, besting Mary Grace Cangemi and Joe Mizzi to maintain an all-Democratic lineup on the Red Bank Council. Though early results showed a tightly contested race, the two incumbents won by a healthy margin when all the votes were tallied.
According to the county election results page, Zipprich earned 1,111 votes and Lewis registered 983. In third and fourth place, Cangemi and Mizzi received 875 and 775 votes, respectively. Write-in candidates earned nine votes.
At Democratic headquarters on Front Street, Zipprich and Lewis, in front of a crowd, enthusiastic prior to the revelation that District 11 legislative candidates had been beaten by the Republican incumbents, pledged to continue on with what they started in their first terms on council.
“Red Bank has decided that Ed and I should continue what we started, and that feels really good,” Lewis said. “It’s really about all of you, and us being committed to continuing what we started. The training wheels are off, we’re on a two-wheeler now.”
Attempted to reach both Cangemi and Mizzi were unsuccessful late Tuesday night. Republicans attended a campaign party at the American Hotel in Freehold.
Zipprich said the reelection would allow he and Lewis to continue on with several great ideas. It’s never easy to go through an election, he said, but in the end, it’s what both he and Lewis felt obligated to do.
“Juanita and I sat down this spring and had a very serious conversation about whether we would do this again. We decided there at that lunch that we had a commitment to Red Bank,” he said. “We are very pleased that the democratic system works in Red Bank.”
RED BANK — Councilwoman Juanita Lewis and Councilman Ed Zipprich are always on the move to make things happen for the people of Red Bank. Lewis, a business manager for an international professional organization in Piscataway and Zipprich, who worked for 20 years as a business operations manager, take their commitment to their community seriously. When both were elected in 2008, notably breaking voting records, Councilwoman Lewis stated at her swearing in ceremony: "Let's get to work!" And that is what these two leaders have done.
"Lewis and Zipprich make the Energizer Bunny look like his batteries have run down" says Councilwoman Kathy Horgan who serves with them both on the Education & Technology committee. "Ed and Juanita aren't interested in politicking like their Republican predecesors," Horgan said, "they make meetings happen and have achieved results for everyone in Red Bank.".
Lewis and Zipprich are devoted to serving their constituents and actively participate in committee meetings, local events and community organizations. They give selflessly to the greater community to improve everyone's quality of life. They believe in what they are doing and they do make a difference.
Lewis says "I am happiest when I see the smiling faces of children practicing and playing on the newly refurbished turf fields in Count Basie Park that Ed and I helped make a reality." She adds "My proudest moment as Parks and Recreation chair was when I helped bring little league baseball back to Red Bank and our new team ended up in the Peninsula World Series the first year! That really was a thrill."
Juanita Lewis also serves on the Global Literacy Project and spent two weeks building a library and teaching reading to children in a remote town in South Africa this summer. She serves on the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation with Zipprich and also on the Red Bank Regional High School Education Foundation. She served 5 years on the Red Bank Board of Education as vice president before being elected to the Council. Juanita also serves as an advisor to the Boys and Girls Club, Red Bank unit, which she helped bring to town.
Lewis, who holds two Bachelors degrees and a Masters in Business Administration, is the past president of the Rutgers African American Alumni Association, is a founding member of NJ Orators Red Bank chapter which teaches young adults public speaking skills and is a member of the Greater Red Bank NAACP. Councilwoman Lewis also established and chairs the Community Vision committee which she and Councilman Zipprich serve on together with Councilwoman Sharon Lee.
Ed Zipprich is proudest of his Historic Preservation achievements in Red Bank. The newly created Washington Street Historic District won him and the Borough a Monmouth County Planning Board Award in 2009. Zipprich has been a watchdog for the historic rehabilitation of the Red Bank Train Station which is scheduled to be renovated by NJ Transit. He continues to challenge NJT to bring the rehabilitation project to fruition. Zipprich believes that preserving our history is critical to the future of our town and our community.
Zipprich says "I love a good challenge which is why I agreed to take over the Department of Public Utilities from Councilwoman Lee during the Christmas snow storm at the end of 2010." In the aftermath of that storm Zipprich, Lee and Gary Watson teamed up with the Office of Emergency Management to get Red Bank back to business. Ed confirmed that "Fortunately, our new Emergency Management Chief, Tom Welsh, knew where to turn for help in the beginning of 2011 after the December storm devastated Monmouth County and our state officials turned their backs on municipalities." The councilman added that "OEM Coordinator Tom Welch did all the homework for Red Bank with FEMA. He put all the right people in the room with us to return $139,000 to the budget and saved the taxpayers of Red Bank from having to carry the entire burden of the storm." Ed is proud of the team in Borough hall and frequents the borough departments weekly to touch base with the staff. "Our employees are the backbone of Red Bank and they do the heavy lifting to make the rest of us look good" Zipprich stated; "I believe in giving credit where it is due."
Councilman Zipprich considers himself a part of the diverse community he represents. Ed is proud of the work the Human Relations committee has done to mold Red Bank into an "Inclusive Community" which earned Red Bank another award. Zipprich practices what he preaches which is what earned him a unanimous election to become Democratic Municipal Chairman in Red Bank in 2009. Former Mayor and chair Ed McKenna says "Ed Zipprich was the logical successor to lead the party because of his passion for the people of our town and his enthusiasm for democratic priniciples." McKenna went on to say "Zip is the Energizer Bunny. He believes in our community. He touches our residents' and business owners' hearts and lives. Ed Zipprich leads by example and is making government accessible, transparent and fiscally responsible."
Councilman Zipprich, like Lewis, serves in a large number of capacities. He chairs the Department of Public Utilities for 2011, where is he working to implement change and better resident services, and acts as liaison to the Historic Preservation Commission. Ed Zipprich is a member of the Planning Board, Education & Technology, Shade Tree and Finance & Personnel committees, Ed is also a member of the Parking Advisory Committee, Community Vision Committee and serves on the Monmouth County Transportation Council in Freehold. Outside of municipal government Zipprich has been elected to serve on the boards of the Red Bank Borough Education Foundattion and the Count Basie Theater Board of Trustees. Ed is politically involved throughout Monmouth County and NJ and serves as Chairman of the Monmouth County Democracy for America chapter, Executive Vice President of the NJ Stonewall Democrats and the KaBoom Fireworks Committee.
The New Jersey general election will take place Nov. 8.
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