By KEITH GRANT
Citing a need for new leadership in City Hall, Kelly endorsed the very people he had campaigned against just two years ago, Mona Goodman, Jim Hennessy and Tom Sofield.
"Over the past two years I have grown increasingly concerned with the fiscal fragility of the city's budget, the unscrupulous development in our neighborhoods and the lack of leadership in City Hall," Kelly said during a press conference Monday morning on Pennsylvania Avenue.
"I am tired of what I've seen over the last four years," Kelly said, "especially over the last two years, and that is the meddlesome nature of the Democratic Party here in Long Beach and how their meddling adversely affects the decision making in City Hall. Politically, I know we're in fiscal dire straits and there's no indication that it's going to get any better, and that's the result of no plan, no vision, no fiscal honesty."
The three Republicans, who ran unsuccessfully in 2001, are trying to unseat council President Joel Crystal, council Vice President Scott Nigro and council newcomer Gina Guma, who was appointed to a vacant seat last spring.
Kelly had become increasingly outspoken against some of the council's decisions this past year, particularly its decision to renovate the Recreation Center. Kelly believed the city was missing an opportunity to explore a full reconstruction of the facility and consistently opposed spending money on the rehab work. He then refused to support the appointment of Guma to the council seat vacated last winter by Dan Kearney, charging that the selection was predetermined by the party leaders while council members were attempting to seek out candidates from the community. His opposition "was no reflection on [Guma]," he said. "I saw a hierarchy that was playing myself and my fellow council members as fools by having sham interviews."
Fellow council members in the Democratic-controlled city were not greatly surprised by Kelly's move, but a few took issue with his assessment of a city and a party that he has campaigned for twice before. Many took note of the fact that Kelly was a Republican committee person in Long Beach in the 90s before he became disillusioned with that party's leadership and joined the Democrats.
"Denis left the Republican Party disappointed that they weren't proactive to bring a Superblock development to Long Beach and joined the Democrats because of our vision for the city," Crystal said. "And now for some reason he finds that all of the platforms that we ran on together and represented to the people of Long Beach don't match his vision, and I think he really owes an apology to the people that voted for him under the guise that he was Democrat who embraced our principles."
Democratic Party leader Gene Cammarato said that Kelly "started as a Republican, got angry at the Republicans. Became a Democrat and now is angry at the Democrats and becoming a Republican." The Democrats, Cammarato said, "have done everything that's needed in the city."
Kelly, who says he intends to stay in the Democratic Party, first won election to the council in 1999 on a ticket with Crystal and Nigro. In 2001 he was the election's top vote-getter and earned a four-year term. One of his running mates from that election, Councilman Lenny Remo, said that Kelly "has a fickle political history."
"He's certainly entitled to endorse as he sees fit," Remo said. "Yet two years ago when he ran against the same three [Republican] candidates, he found their platform -- or lack thereof -- unworthy of the people of Long Beach. It's interesting that the only change in two years is that Denis' name is not on the ballot."
Remo, who is also midway through a four-year term, refuted Kelly's charges that the City Council is responsible for current fiscal constraints. "The economic problems facing Long Beach are much closer to home, yet no different than those faced by Nassau, New York state or the federal government," Remo said. "Major events in the last two years have fostered this economic malaise, putting a tremendous financial burden on local municipalities."
As for the GOP ticket, Remo said, the challengers "speak of a plan to improve our city, yet short of empty promises to lure voters, no portion of this magic plan has been offered to the public for scrutiny."
Guma was not surprised that Kelly would campaign against her. "I kind of felt he was going that way," she said. "And he has a right to endorse who he wants to endorse. I don't think it will affect the race. I think people have already made up their minds."
While the Republican candidates called the move "historic" and proof that it is time for a change in Long Beach, the last woman to serve on the council, Barbara Mosca, had already broken ranks with the Democrats and has been campaigning for Hennessy and Sofield. Mosca praised Kelly's courage and agreed with his claim that the city leaders lack a plan or vision for the future. While critics can point to Kelly's history as a Republican-turned Democrat-turned Republican supporter, Mosca added that on a local level she doesn't believe being a Democrat or a Republican makes a difference. "On a local level, I just want what's best for Long Beach."
To Kelly, that means a change in power at the top. "People are sick and tired of seeing houses being built on their block five, eight, 10 feet taller than any other houses on the block," Kelly said. "There is no indication of change by this council, by this administration, and it's going to get worse."
As to why he would go so far as to support candidates that opposed him two years ago, Kelly said, "I think these three have the independence, the intelligence and the passion to make a difference. Two years ago I was impressed by their campaign. I think the city, and even the Democratic Party, will see a worthwhile and invigorating change. I think it's time for a change."
