University critic seeks council seat

Joseph G. Hughes WEST LONG BRANCH - Joseph G. Hughes, a critic of Monmouth University's expansion plans in the borough, has entered the race for one of the two seats on the Borough Council up for reelection in November.

Hughes, an attorney, is the president of the West Long Branch Coalition of Neighbors, a group that opposes the university's approved plans to add student housing and related facilities.

In his first time running for office, Hughes, a Republican, said he wants to make a difference in the town.

"Being a member of the council would be an opportunity for me to maintain the quality of life that we have here, and to also keep taxes at a reasonable level," he said Monday.

Hughes is one of 35 residents who filed an appeal in state Supreme Court in July, seeking to overturn a lower court ruling upholding the borough Zoning Board's approval of a university expansion plan.

He noted Monday that every resident is entitled to have confidence in municipal leadership.

"I'm an attorney, and I need to be very ethical in my day job and I will bring about those same ethics as councilman," he said.

The two council seats are currently held by incumbent Councilman Joseph Woolley, a Republican who is seeking his seventh consecutive council term, and incumbent Councilwoman Bettina E. Munson, a Democrat, who was elected to council in 2004.

Munson, whose seat expires in December, is not seeking re-election.

Democrat John Hegarty will be the challenger running for one of the council seats.

In his first political bid, Hegarty made an unsuccessful run for mayor in the 2006 election, losing to Republican Janet W. Tucci.