Council to appoint Murphy to Thompson’s empty seat

Zoning Board member
is on ballot for Dems
in November election
BY SANDI CARPELLO
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Florence “Betti” Thompson was honored for her years of service to the borough Friday.

RED BANK — In just two weeks, Councilwoman Florence "Betti" Thompson will be soaking up the sun at her new Miami Beach condominium.

After 12 years of service to the borough’s governing body, Thompson, 67, relinquished her post last week — just two and a half months shy of her term’s completion.

Democratic Mayor Edward McKenna said Arthur Murphy, 44, his party’s candidate for Thompson’s seat in the November election, will be appointed to fill out the rest of Thompson’s term.

Under state law the party of a council member who must end his or her term early is supposed to submit three names of possible replacements.

Even without Thompson, the Democrats maintain a 4-1 majority on the council and so are certain to be able to appoint Murphy.

The council is expected to make Murphy’s appointment to replace Thompson at the Sept. 23 council meeting.

Murphy, a member of the borough’s Zoning Board, is running for one of two three-year terms on the ballot in November. Incumbent Councilman Pasquale Menna is seeking his fourth term.

Murphy and Menna are opposed in the election by Republicans Kay Ernst and Paul Emberger Jr.

At the Sept. 9 Borough Council meeting, officials paid homage to Thompson — the borough’s first woman (and first African-American woman) on the council, while presenting her with a proclamation and a key to the city.

"I am going to be far less black and blue because Betti keeps me in check," said first-term Councilman John Curley. "She is a very bright person, very well-read. She always researches things and she always reads. She helped develop a thought process for me. She is the best on the council at thinking out of the box and [is] one of the members of council that I can trust and truly call my friend."

Known for her years of service to the borough’s school district, Thompson worked as a teacher and guidance counselor at the Red Bank Middle School for 23 years.

During her tenure with the borough’s school system, she served as president of the Red Bank Teachers Association and as vice president of the Red Bank Regional Board of Education.

She also helped organize and run a one-on-one children’s tutorial program with the Red Bank NAACP Education Committee.

During her years as a council member, she served as commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department, the council’s liaison to the Red Bank Senior Center, and a leader in the establishment of Riverside Gardens Park, which has been acclaimed as one of New Jersey’s finest award-winning parks.

A resolution in Thompson’s honor read:

"Throughout her entire life, Betti has given of herself in a tireless fashion and through her logic, wisdom, invaluable experience, and creative spirit has been a positive influence and will be remembered and missed by all those she has touched."