Dem ticket filled for Nov. election

Bifani won't run for

re-election to council

BY LAYLI WHYTE

Staff Writer

After nearly a lifetime connection to local government, Kathy Horgan has thrown her hat into the ring for the 2007 Red Bank Borough Council race on the Democratic ticket.

Horgan is stepping up to the plate following an announcement by Councilman Robert J. Bifani that he would not seek re-election after serving five three-year terms in office.

Horgan will run with fellow Democratic Councilwoman Sharon Lee, who was elected to her first term in office in 2004.

Democrat Edward Zipprich will campaign to fill two years of an unexpired term left vacant by Republican Kaye Ernst and currently filled by Republican Mary-Grace Cangemi, who will run for election to retain the seat.

Horgan has been involved in the borough at several levels as a member of the Zoning Board, the Human Relations Advisory Committee, the KaBoom! fireworks committee and the Red Bank Visitors Center.

"I feel I have gone full circle," she said.

Horgan started her career as secretary to the deputy director of the National League of Cities, which is where she met her late husband Drew, who passed away four years ago rather suddenly, Horgan said, adding that the response from the community was overwhelming.

"My husband was very active in the community and in local government," she said. "After his death, the town was just really wonderful to me."

Horgan said that she will have to discuss with her running mates the platform for the campaign, but said that her goal is to give back to the community and keep Red Bank a great place to live.

"I want Red Bank to be the place that people want to come to, the best place to live," she said.

"I love Red Bank. I like living here. I feel that giving back is very important. I'll probably spend the rest of my days here. What happens in Red Bank is very important to me."

Horgan works as special assistant to the Office of the CEO of amfAR AIDS Research, New York.

She hopes that the international perspective she gained living overseas with her husband for many years will add a new element to the council.

"I'm new blood," she said, "and with new blood come new ideas and new perspectives."