Red Bank NJ mayor debate pits Democrats fighting over party

RED BANK – The two Democrats competing for the fractious party’s nomination for mayor will make their cases to voters Tuesday in a debate that could indicate how the town will be governed for years to come. 

The League of Women Voters of the Greater Red Bank Area and Southern Monmouth County will host a Red Bank mayoral candidates’ forum on Zoom at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. It will be hosted two weeks before the local Democratic and Republican primaries on June 7. In recent years, Democrats have routinely swept the council seats.

Second-term Red Bank councilman Michael Ballard and newcomer Billy Portman will answer questions submitted ahead of time by residents. Advance registration for attendees is required at https://bit.ly/forumredbankdem. 

Ballard could not be reached for comment. 

Who is Billy Portman?

Portman, a Red Bank resident since 2015, is the owner of Advantage Construction, a commercial building contractor, and Elegant Mist, a company that sells cooling systems. He has three children who have all attended one of Red Bank’s arts academies and he sings in a cover band called So Watt. 

Vocalist Billy Portman sings for So Watt during the Light of Day Cover Me show, Sunday, January 10, 2016, at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park.

Portman said he has been involved with canvassing for national politics since 2004. He said although he has not been involved in the local Democratic Municipal Committee, he has been following local issues since 2018. 

“Democrats had swept into power in Red Bank for the first time in however many years and then, immediately infighting started,” he said referring to the six-person all-Democratic council that came into office in 2018. 

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