RED BANK – Borough Democrats are expected to meet to nominate candidates for the Borough Council seat vacated by the former council president, Arthur Murphy III.
“I have called for a county [Democratic] committee meeting to discuss the next steps and successor candidates after councilman Murphy’s resignation,” said Councilman Edward Zipprich, who is chairman of the Red Bank Democratic Party.
Murphy submitted a letter of resignation Aug 10 on the heels of a widely circulated video showing the former councilman using expletives while talking about former patrons of the now closed Lucky Break Billiards.
Mayor Pasquale Menna accepted his resignation that same day.
Members of council commented on the controversy surrounding the resignation at the Aug. 12 meeting, which Murphy did not attend.
“The tactics that were used to convince him to resign were less than good faith. I think all of Red Bank loses when those tactics are used,” said Councilman Michael DuPont, who would have been Murphy’s running mate in November.
Monmouth County Democratic Chairman Vin Gopal said on Aug. 10 that Murphy resigned over the harsh political climate that has emerged in the borough.
“We first talked about it a few months ago and he wanted to resign over how nasty politics has gotten,” said Gopal.
According to Gopal, the posting of the video was politically motivated. The video, which has since been removed, appears to have been filmed at a private residence. “His family wanted him out, and he got out,” said Gopal.
Councilwoman Kathy Horgan said the video not only damaged Murphy, but also those closest to him.
“It hurt his family even more than it hurt him, and that sickens me,” Horgan said at the Aug. 12 meeting.
Menna also said that Murphy, who had served on council for 12 years, had planned to resign earlier but delayed his departure while Menna underwent heart surgery.
“He actually stayed on for a couple of extra months because I was in the hospital for my heart surgery. You couldn’t ask for a more loyal guy,” said Menna in an interview.
He also said that Murphy’s increased workload as a contractor is part of the reason he intended to resign.
“There are very few council people who have put in the amount of time and passion that he has.”
Both Murphy and DuPont were seeking re-election.
Two Republicans – Michael Whelan and Mark Taylor – are running for the council seats.
In a post on the Red Bank Republican Party Facebook page, Red Bank Chairman Sean DiSomma and the two candidates, praised Murphy.
‘Art Murphy is an American hero. He served four years in the military, another 12 in Red Bank and is a family man who works hard to earn a living for his family,” the post reads.
“I have had extremely strong disagreements with Art on policy issues and likely always will.
“We take no joy in what happened to Art over the last few days, nor do we think it was a strong consideration for him in resigning.”
Murphy, who operates A.V. Murphy Builders, was appointed to council in 2003 to fill the seat vacated by former councilwoman Florence ‘Betty’ Thompson. He was appointed by Mayor Edward J. McKenna.
Murphy could not be reached for comment.