By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Mayor Leonard Desiderio, who has led Sea Isle City’s government since 1993, was sworn in to his ninth term on Saturday and immediately touted an ambitious agenda of capital projects to improve the beaches, reduce flooding and build a new community recreation center.
“This is my ninth time taking the oath of office as mayor of Sea Isle City. I’ve got to tell you, each time it gets better and better and better. I don’t lose any enthusiasm. I’m excited, and I’m ready to go. We’re looking for great times here in our community,” he told the audience.
Also sworn in to new four-year terms during the ceremony were City Council members William Kehner Sr. and Frank Edwardi Jr. They ran with Desiderio in the city’s May municipal election as a unified ticket and faced no opposition.
Desiderio, Kehner and Edwardi also ran unopposed in the 2019 and 2015 elections. They defeated their opponents in the 2011 election, the last time they had any competition.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Desiderio took the oath of office from former Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue. Kehner was sworn in by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew. Edwardi was sworn in by Desiderio.
The ceremony was held outside at the Band Shell in Excursion Park, just steps from Sea Isle’s oceanfront Promenade and beaches.
Desiderio, Kehner and Edwardi all thanked their families and Sea Isle residents for their support. Stressing a theme of unity, they also praised the strong relationship between the mayor’s office and Council as part of the day-to-day task of running Sea Isle’s government.
Van Drew, whose congressional district includes Sea Isle, said the beach resort is both beautiful and successful in large part because of the cooperation between local government officials.
“What an amazing town this is with the leadership of the mayor and the rest of Council,” Van Drew said.
Desiderio, 66, 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 want to start by thanking the people of Sea Isle City for the opportunity to serve you,” Desiderio said in his remarks. “That is what our government is for, to serve you. Of course, there are a lot of details, planning, discussion, debate and plain old-fashioned hard work and labor that goes into public service.”
“But, as it is most fundamental, government exists to serve the people. It is a great honor to serve as your mayor. I will never take the support of this community for granted. In Sea Isle, we have so much to be thankful for. And our challenge is to never rest on our laurels – to always ask ourselves what needs to be done and what is right for our city,” he continued.
Desiderio also focused his remarks on a series of major infrastructure improvements that he indicated will be a critical part of Sea Isle’s role as both a tourist destination and hometown for about 2,100 year-round residents.
The biggest project will be a community recreation center that has been discussed for the last few years as the project went from the planning stage to reality. Construction of the estimated $20 million project is expected to begin in the fall and be completed in 2025 on the site of the now-demolished former public school at 4501 Park Road.
“This project will provide a place that can be used and enjoyed by all – young old, in-between, resident and visitor. Among our public facilities, this is the only missing piece,” Desiderio said.
Also expected to get underway in the fall is a beach replenishment project that Sea Isle is doing in partnership with the state and federal governments, Desiderio said. New sand is placed on the beaches periodically to keep them wide and attractive for the summer tourists.
Desiderio also described Sea Isle’s efforts to protect the island from stormwater by building new flood-mitigation projects. He promised that Sea Isle will be a leader in flood prevention.
“As those who live on a barrier island very well know, with the beauty and grandeur of our ocean and bays comes the constant threat of flooding,” he said. “Over the next several years, we’ll embark on several initiatives to continue to improve our flood-mitigation efforts.”
Desiderio also pledged that the city will continue with its public safety campaign to prevent large groups of rowdy teenagers from disrupting the summer season with underage drinking, vandalism, theft and graffiti. Sea Isle approved a new 10 p.m. curfew for minors this summer to keep them off the beaches and Promenade late at night. He said the curfew is already helping to curb unruly behavior.
“We welcome everyone to Sea Isle City. We know this is the place where everyone wants to be. All we ask is that you behave, and if you don’t want to behave, sorry, this is not the place for you,” Desiderio said amid applause from the audience.
“Our residents, our visitors and everyone here deserves peace. They deserve to feel safe, and I tell you this, whether you live in Sea Isle or visit Sea Isle or are just passing through Sea Isle, that’s what you’ll have when you are in Sea Isle City,” he added.
Kehner and Edwardi followed the mayor’s speech and kept their remarks brief. They are heading into their fifth terms.
They mainly thanked their families and Sea Isle residents for supporting them during the election and their time in office.
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.
“I’ll continue to work as hard as I can for everybody,” Kehner said.
Like Kehner, the 55-year-old Edwardi was first elected to Council in 2007.
“I really, really enjoy it,” Edwardi said of his time in office.
Attention was also focused on Desiderio, Kehner and Edwardi’s families during the ceremony. All three men were joined by their family members while they took their oath of office.
Desiderio thanked his wife, Carmela, his daughter, also named Carmela, and his mother, Carmel.
Kehner spoke of the support he has received from his wife, Cheryl, and son, William Jr.
In his remarks, Edwardi honored his late father, Frank Edwardi Sr., a former Sea Isle community leader who served as a firefighter for 50 years. He also thanked his mother, Kathy, his wife, Patty, sons Dante and Frankie and his daughter, Megan.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Councilman J.B. Feeley was appointed as the governing body’s president as part of its annual reorganization. The five City Council members share the president’s post on a rotating basis each year. The president oversees the meetings and also serves as Council’s chief spokesperson.
