With the deadline for filing nominating petitions a week away, candidates for the City Council election in May are working to get signatures and form alliances. Though all five seats on the council are up for election, no single ticket of five candidates has definitely announced that they are running together. Rudolph Smith, a 21-year employee of the Board of Education, said he has put together a ticket along with Tyron McAllister, an attendance officer for the school district, and Doreen Townsend, who is employed at Fort Monmouth. Incumbent Councilwoman Sheila Solomon has reportedly put together a slate consisting of herself, local businessman Kevin Sanders and Haitian community leader Rudolph Pierre.
Efforts are underway to possibly add two more candidates to that ticket.
Deputy Mayor John J. Hamilton Jr. is said to be running with at least one other person, and Councilman James Condos is reportedly considering a re-election bid along with another resident. Councilwoman Louise Murray said she will run, though it remains to be seen if she will do so as an independent or as part of a ticket. Ben Schneider, a member of the city Planning Board and past commander of the city's American Legion post, has been gathering signatures. Another potential candidate is Donald Hammary. Supporters of Hammary have discussed his candidacy with potential campaign contributors.