By CHRIS MUNZING and KEITH GRANT
Jim Hennessy, Tom Sofield and Mona Goodman left observers in both parties stunned by what appeared to be a historic win over Democratic incumbents Joel Crystal, Gina Guma and Scott Nigro. With the defection of Councilman Denis Kelly to the GOP side a week before the election, the Democrats are left with Lenny Remo as their lone party representative on the council.
As the top vote getters, Hennessy (4,222 votes) and Sofield (4,155) receive four-year terms, while Goodman (3,893) will get a two-year seat on the council after many years of sitting in the audience, on the outside looking in.
Crystal (3,672) and Nigro (3,562) both maintained an outside shot at overtaking Goodman, with some 500 absentee ballots yet to be counted, but they would need an overwhelming majority of those votes to change the outcome. Such a prospect couldn't dampen the Republicans' spirits -- or their confidence -- after polls closed on a stunning election night.
On the top floor of Sutton Place on West Park Avenue Tuesday night, the standing-room-only crowd welcomed each new tally with raucous applause or disappointed sighs. But as the vote totals mounted, all negativity disappeared as Sofield, a registered Democrat, and Republicans Hennessy and Goodman appeared to be beating the Democratic incumbents for control of the City Council.
When it became clear that the GOP's "Coalition" team would most likely be replacing the current seat holders, the crowd turned downright jubilant. Local Republican Party chairman and former city councilman Jim Moriarty then quieted the gathering and asked the three candidates to come to the front. He reassuringly put an arm around Goodman's shoulder. "We knew Mona would have to climb the highest mountain," he said as the crowd dreaded what it thought was coming. "But she did it!"
As the crowd erupted, Hennessy and Sofield were also informed that they had won, and the three candidates embraced.
"That's my leader," Goodman laughed later about Moriarty's little joke. "But you know what? They say we worked hard. He worked twice as hard."
Goodman then turned her attention to the massive task in front of her and her fellow council members-elect. "This is a giant leap forward towards responsive, bipartisan government," she said. "It's something that's long overdue."
"It's a new day," said Sofield. "We're looking at a new renaissance for the future. It means a bright new day for Long Beach."
Sofield didn't express much surprise that the Republicans swept the election. "I had a good feeling the last few weeks that we were going to win all three," he said.
After the win had been announced, the three new council members made sure that one current member was recognized. Denis Kelly, a Democrat who had just a week earlier announced that he was endorsing the Republicans' "Coalition" candidates, congratulated his new colleagues.
A wholesale Republican change on the City Council is something that has only occurred once in the past 80 years, according to Moriarty. "It's a new era in open government," he said. "And an end to party politics as we've known it for the last century."
Moriarty added that the Republicans were dedicated to doing what they promised, including a two-year tax freeze. "We're going to do what we said we would," he said as Queen's rock anthem "We Are the Champions" played on the first floor of the restaurant.
The sudden change from a uniformly Democratic City Council to one that now boasts a 3-2 Republican party majority, as well as having Kelly leaning toward the Republican side, could mean sweeping changes throughout the city. The Republicans ran on a platform of reducing the tax burden on citizens and curbing what they perceived as the overdevelopment of Long Beach. Each of the Republicans promised an end to partisan politics and pledged to work for the betterment of the city. This sentiment was encouraged by one guest who spoke to the crowd. State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, a Democrat, came in to congratulate the winners, but was also quick to point out that the council and all city workers have to make sure that Long Beach is their sole focus.
"Nobody lose sight of the fact that we are all Long Beach," Weisenberg said to cheers that were second only to the victory announcement. "This is our city. We can all work together for the people of our city."
Stunned in defeat
For the rival party loyalists, it was a quite different night. While Republican supporters packed Sutton Place, councilman Remo's TKOPS 180 restaurant up the block, the scene of a riotous victory party two years ago, was virtually empty long after polls had closed. Soon after a call came in from Democratic headquarters to not expect a large crowd, the grim faces of arriving supporters told the whole story.
Guma, who placed a surprising sixth with 3,508 votes, was the lone candidate to surface, managing a smile even in defeat. "I think we fought a good fight," said Guma, who left the school board after six years to accept the Democrats' appointment to a vacant council seat last spring.
"This was by far the longest race I've ever been in," she said. "But I walked away learning a little bit more than when I came in. I'm going to still be around. I'm not going anywhere."
As for Remo, he emphasized that his focus will be to do what's best for Long Beach regardless of the party affiliation of his colleagues. "In 45 years as a resident and two years as a councilman, the one constant for me has been my concern and love for the city of Long Beach," he said. "Changing three seats on a City Council has potential to be a very drastic change. My only concern is that the people that have worked to progress the city to where we are now are safe in their jobs, the institutional knowledge that they have is not lost, and that political retribution will not be the first order of business for the new regime."
Democratic party chairman Gene Cammarato wished the new majority well. "I think the citizens of Long Beach made a statement that they wanted a change," he said. "I think there were pledges made by the other side that will be interesting to see if they can keep."
Judges hold on
City Court Judges Roy Tepper and Stanley Smolkin gave the Democrats the only bit of good news Tuesday night, earning re-election to the local bench. Tepper earned a 10-year term with a 4,292-3,346 win over challenger Maria Pirrone, while Smolkin retained his seat for another six years by defeating Michael Zummo 4,286-2,994.
