OCEANPORT - Mayor Lucille Chaump traveled to Washington, D.C., Oct. 23 to meet with congressmen and senators in an effort to prevent the closure of Fort Monmouth.

Chaump was joined by Councilman Jay Briscione and Oceanport Board of Education Vice President Bill McVitty.

The borough officials presented Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Texas, with a petition opposing the closing of the fort signed by residents of Oceanport and neighboring towns.

They also met with Rep. Rush Holt (D-12), Chief of Staff Tom O'Donnell, Sen. Robert Menendez, and Joel Ruben, legislative assistant to Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

The three borough representatives said in a press release that they support "all means necessary" to overturn the BRAC decision to close Fort Monmouth.

"If we have to take several trips to Washington in order to get our point across, we will do it," Chaump said in the release. "Fort Monmouth is a vital part of the community and we will fight to preserve it at all costs."

Chaump and Briscione, both Democrats, are seeking re-election in the November municipal election.

Newcomer McVitty is also running on the Democrat ticket for one of the two open seats on Borough Council.

Republican candidate Joseph Irace, who is seeking a seat on council, along with running mate Gerald Bertekap, said a last-minute meeting during a campaign "does not constitute a plan" for the future of the Fort Monmouth property.

"'Save the Fort' is not a political issue and it is not just a political slogan to be used during elections," Irace said in a prepared statement.

"In Lucille Chaump's tenure as mayor, our Borough Council has not heard one word about saving the fort at council meetings nor at any other time.

"Chaump and her running mates have taken 'Save the Fort' as a campaign slogan, but their slogan is just words without substance," he said.

Republican Michael Mahon is challenging Chaump in the mayoral election.

Chaump said that she agreed that saving Fort Monmouth is not a campaign issue.

"It is a number-one issue in Oceanport," Chaump said. "As mayor and leader in Oceanport, I am doing everything humanly possible to keep Fort Monmouth as a viable entity."

- Christine Varno