By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
It was a typically civil election in Sea Isle City.
There was no mudslinging, no hostility and no squabbling of any kind – not one attack ad to be seen.
Mayor Leonard Desiderio and Councilmen William Kehner Sr. and Frank Edwardi Jr. cruised to victory Tuesday night in what was a remarkably tame affair.
All three incumbents were virtually guaranteed re-election to four-year terms as soon as they stepped into the voting booth because they faced no opposition.
Despite the national and state trend for contentious elections, Sea Isle’s races are usually devoid of any rancor or drama because the incumbents routinely are unopposed. There have been no challengers for any of the City Council or mayoral races dating back to at least the 2015 election.
Desiderio, Kehner and Edwardi faced no opposition the last time they ran in 2019 and also had no challengers in the 2015 election. They defeated their opponents in the 2011 election, the last time they had any competition.
With the outcome never in doubt, turnout was predictably low Tuesday among Sea Isle’s 1,837 registered voters.
In unofficial results, Desiderio had 325 votes, Kehner 309 and Edwardi 275. Provisional ballots were still pending, City Clerk Shannon Romano said.
Desiderio, 66, who has been mayor since 1993, won his ninth term. He also serves as the director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners and is one of only a few officials in New Jersey to hold two elected offices.
“I am very thankful for the confidence and support that the voters of Sea Isle City have given to me once again. It is my honor to serve all of the residents and visitors of our great community. To be elected and re-elected nine times is something that continues to keep me working hard for all of Sea Isle City,” Desiderio said in a statement.
“I will continue to work hard to make Sea Isle City the best community it can be. Thank you again for all of your support. I look forward to a great future for the community we all love and which I refer to as the Capital of Cape May County,” he added.
Kehner and Edwardi will be heading into their fifth terms. They touted the partnership between the mayor’s administration and City Council as a factor in their re-election. Reflecting their cooperation, Desiderio, Kehner and Edwardi ran on a unified ticket.
The 75-year-old Kehner has a long history in Sea Isle politics. He served one term from 1977 to 1981 under the city’s old commission style of government. He was first elected to City Council in 2007.
Like Kehner, the 55-year-old Edwardi was first elected to Council in 2007.
In separate interviews, Kehner and Edwardi said they believe the lack of opposition to their campaigns reflects voter satisfaction with the direction the city has been heading under the current leadership.
Kehner said the election results “seem to keep our constituents in a good mood.”
“Hopefully, it means the people are approving of us, or it means that no one else wants the job. I wonder about that sometimes,” Kehner said with a bit of humor.
Edwardi said he hopes the lack of opposition simply means that voters believe the incumbents are “doing a good job.”
“I think people are happy because they are not running anyone in opposition to us,” he said.
Edwardi also said Sea Isle’s habit of keeping taxes stable in most of its budgets seems to resonate with voters.
“The government is doing its job and keeping money in the taxpayers’ pockets,” he said.
In the aftermath of the election, one of the city’s top priorities will be the construction of Sea Isle’s proposed $20 million community recreation center, Kehner said.
Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2025, according to the tentative timetable.
“I feel that the community center is the key coming attraction,” Kehner said. “We need to stay on top of it to make sure the building comes out as it should.”
