'Rumson Family' Campaign Not Over, Candidates Say

The 2013 election may be over, but the Rumson write-in candidates say it's only the beginning for them.

The two, Tim McCooey and Tom Ridgway, both registered Republicans, mounted a final hour non-partisan campaign to unseat Rumson Borough Councilman Joseph Hemphill and his running mate, the GOP choice, Laura Atwell. Their campaign, they say, was only the start of a 2014 political movement based on their Rumson Family grassroots group's banner.

"We are both humbled and invigorated by the outpouring of support from our community," a prepared statement from the two read. "Volunteers and voters transcended political parties. Residents, of all ages from throughout the Borough came together to call friends, walk door to door, post signs and ask voters for their support. Rumson is a wonderful place to live and raise our families. We want to keep it that way. If we, as a community, can accomplish all this in 12 days, imagine what we can do in a year. Look for the supporters of Rumson Family to be heard again in 2014."

While the Rumson Family campaign did not succeed, it garnered roughly 32 percent of the vote resulting from the 12-day campaign effort for which Rumson Mayor John Ekdahl credited the two on election night. However, the mayor also said that the write-ins used an "unfortunate incident in Rumson as the basis for the entire effort."

That incident was the death of a 25-year-old residing in an Oxford House substance abuse rehabilitation home in the West Park section of the borough.

While the cause of death has not yet been confirmed and such homes are legal and protected by state statutes and American Disabilities Act law, a contingent of residents, including McCooey and Ridgway, rallied against the facility and questioned its legality and zoning that would allow it.

The campaign began shortly after the death. In their candidacy profiles and campaign, Ridgway and McCooey have accused planning and zoning boards of not being "family friendly" enough.

"The various boards appointed by our council — planning, zoning, recreation, etc., need to be more resident and family-friendly," Ridgway said in his profile questionnaire. "We’ve seen families denied C/Os for things as small as a question on their backyard grading, or have to incur thousands in fees and experts just to put in a lawn."

Ekdahl has maintained that while borough officials have been in communication with the Oxford House management to ensure that there have not been and/or will not be violations of the facility's charter in the Rumson house, they are matters that must be settled within the house and are not subject to borough laws and/or zoning.

As for the existence of the house, Ekdahl has reiterated the laws that allow it are above local government's reach of authority.

The candidates repeated that their impetus for the campaign did not focus on that issue or any other, but was more of an effort to bridge better communication between residents and officials and disband "old guard" ways.

"Contrary to public comments opposing our grassroots community effort, this was not a one issue candidacy," the statement from McCooey and Ridgway said. "After only a 12-day campaign, 1,445 write in votes were cast for Borough Council. Of the 4,465 total votes cast, 49% were for someone other than the electoral victors. Each of the voters behind them deserves respect and a vote must not be taken for granted as it is your voice in the community. We would encourage the council and residents to foster a positive dialogue for the benefit of all.  Our goals remain intact as we look for a better avenue for the residents to better engage and feel better served by their local officials."