4 ' % Herald/Lanlern/Dispatch 1 May '85

Crest Election Reflects The Community: Quiet

By ED HARNETT WILDWOOD CREST - This borough will have a municipal election May 14. It is in the midst of a freeswinging campaign in which six candidates are battling for three seats on the borough commission. To the casu&observer, it might be hard to tell. There has been no great prolifera tion of "Vote For" signs ' along the neat streets There has been no great outcry to "turn the rascals out" There have been no torchlight parades and no free beer. In short, it is the'sort of campaign one might expect in a resort which has no liquor licenses, no Boardwalk, no Ferris wheel, and no video arcades ft is not of the flam boyant, freewheeling sort The fact that it has been conducted largely by press release and door-to-door canvassing has helped to keep Crest politicking on the quiet side. Quiet or no. however, the six candidates are trying hard to win the hearts — and votes — of the residents. The candidates are made up of slates of three, two and a lone independent : MAYOR JOHN Pan talone. Commissioner Charles Guhr, both incumbents. and Dr. Harvey C Strair, making his first bid for elected office, make up one slate. Commissioner Frank McCall, who ran with Pantalone and Guhr in the last election, but has since split with them, and Robert E. "Bob" Young, also making Auxiliary Events Set RIO GRANDE -The Rio Grande Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary will hold ite third craft show and flea market at9a.m. to3p.m. May 18at the fire hall, Delsea Drive. For table information call 886 1365 or 886-6773. 75 Years Old OCEAN CITY - The South Philadelphia High school Alumni, Shore Chapter, will celebrate the alumni group's 75th an niversary with a brunch 1 p.m. Sunday here For information. c&ll Ray Talbot. 399-0404. dr Bill Esher. 522-7478 STONE HARBOR IH'Pl.. BRIIMiK C1.CB Oterall »inm Apr. 14: Tic. 1*1 Barbara Strrctcr and Wilma Curlcy 71 2nd Hill t'oan and Bob Owens 71 Tie. 3rd One Reed and Qery Miller 70 4th - Dorns Barker and Carta Mcn«e * 70 Sth Henry Buchianirnand One Kiiher 69 There is a duplicate At'BL bridge game every Wednesday al 7 30 p m in the Stone Harbor fire bouse The public ts invited For information call 368 1421 See Coupon For 50$ OFF On Classified Paw V»«« VlVVVlllVH V

his first run, constitute a second slate. Running as an indepeni dent is George Denham, whose campaign slogan is "Let George do it". i The. big issues as i developed during the past i few weeks are means of preventing the in- [ discriminate spread of multi-family housing, the fate of the Crest Pier, i which houses the borough's recreation programs, and restoration of 48 blocks of borough streets ripped up > by the contractor laying • force maias for the county Municipal Utility Authority's sewage disposal system. What almost everyone has labeled a non-issue — beach fees — keeps popping up. even as pledges of "no beach fees" appear in the McCall Young and Pan-talone-Guhr-Strair platforms. Ironcially, three of the six candidates were prominent among supporters of imposing beach fees before the question was rejected handily in a referendum a couple of years ago. McCall introduced the measure calling for fees, and Denham and Strair' were both leaders in the citizens' group which sponsored the move for fees It is. perhaps, a bit difficult for the candidates to slug it out when they are opposing men with whom they may have been associated in civic affairs. Only Young has not taken any official part in borough government before. McCall, as noted, is an incumbent commissioner; Denham is chairman of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. and Strair serves on the borough tourist council. ^ IN INTERVIEWS, even when listing the shortcom ings of their opponents or outlining what they see as nefarious designs or .activities. most did so more in sorrow than anger Not all the rhetoric has targeted the candidates themselves. Richard Adelizzi, campaign manager for the McCallYoung ticket, has been pictured as a sort of Svengali. dictating policy and action to the candidates. In answer. Pantalone. Guhr and Strair have been accused of similar relations to one of their supporters in the rush to take over favorable political ground, the opposing forces have, in the style of Pentagon battle games, developed some interesting scenarios. Some of these involve the Crest Pier, the venerable structure at Heather and Atlantic which houses the borougtys recreation activities^ Candidate Denham. in a release-; charged that the incumjbent commissioners, having used up the budget surplus to produce an elec-tion-year drop in the tax rate, will tell the taxpayers in 1986 that they have to choose between a tax increase or selling the Crest Pier land for condominium development. YOUNG AND McCALL declared that they "know" the oth<y; commissioners have contacted developers to ask if they are interested in bidding on the Crest Pier property. In rebutting those statements, Guhr. who is revenue and finance direc- ,

tor. pointed out that the commission has achieved a three-cent tax reduction by inclusion of $565,000 surplus in the current budget. Of that amount, he said, $300,000 was accrued during the previous year, and indications are that a similar surplus may be realized next year. As to the Crest Pier, Guhr denied any knowledge of discussions with builders about selling the property He and his colleagues have decided to . leave the recreation program where it is. after considering the available options. he stated. His statement was reaffirmed by Pantalone and Strair. The aging facility itself will have to be replaced, Guhr said, for reasons of safety and to permit expansion of recreation programs. Funding construction of a new building will have to be dealt with when studies and planning have progressed far enough to permit putting a price on the project, he added, but action should take place within the next year. Differences between candidates over means of controlling the growth of mul-ti-unit housing seem to turn largely on time. The incumbent commission has -approved an ordinance calling for larger sized lots for multiple dwellings, ranging from 60 feet frontage for a duplex in an R-2 zone to 120 feet for a four family unit in R-3. In addition. Pantalone said, the borough has hired a prominent planner to revise its master plan so as to limit development of large-scale housing units, particularly in traditionally single-family neighborhoods. ALL THE CANDIDATES agreed on the necessity of keeping close watch on the work of the county MUA * contractor. Digging for the sewer mains has disrupted the borough's o.n-going road repair program, said Guhr, citing one newly repaved street dug up to accommodate the sewer line McCall stated that his split with the other two commissioners was attributable to their reluctance to back him in vigorous opposition to the MUA Guhr. who had taken" - issue with McCall, principally on a timetable for repaving torn up streets, said that the alienation with McCall was a "misunderstanding which snowballed" Guhr had msi^fd that the roadways over the sewer line ditches should be completely repaved before Memorial Day. May 27. McCall had urged waiting until fall to complete the paving, allowing the roadway to settle, per mit pressure testing of the pipes, and polling summer

CREST CANDIDATES — Contenders in the May 14 election for three borough commissioners will face-off Monday night at the Church of the Assumption. Seaview Avenue. They are. from left, incumbents Charles Guhr and John Pantalone; their running mate. Dr. Harvey Strair: independent George Denham: incumbent Frank McCall and his running mate. Bob Young.

residents to determine if their utility pipes were properly hooked into the newlines Guhr last week expressed himself as satisfied with the compromise reached with the MUA contractor, under which the ditches will be covered with temporary paving for the summer. and a final two-inch overpaying laid in the fall. Young, speaking of the control of housing density, said he would like to see a revised master plan developed which would give/ weight to what .residents want for their neighborhoods, and urged that every effort be made, through town meetings or mailings, to get input from individuals for such a plan On Crest Pier. Young declared he is for a facility on the present site, with special emphasis on providing activities for senior citizens, such as dancing, for which, he said, they now have to travel to North Wildwood, Avalon and Cape May. Denham. running alone, 'has been spared any suggestions that he is being influenced by a campaign manager or backer. He is treasurer of his own campaign. THE PANTALONE Guhr<£trair slate has "mad?- a 180-degree switch" <*i the Crest Pier issiiertle charged, saying that as late as the middle of March the group favored moving the recreation facilities to land back of the Von Savage pool. "What they say in -meetings or in private and in their press releases, do not agree." Denham declared. Strair. remarking on the borough's celebration this year of its 75th anniversary. called on residents to look into the future. He called for construction on the Crest Pier site of a facility which would provide activity for residents and tourists alike, with the architecture to reflect as nearly as possible the original building. The current celebration of the borough's Diamond

Jubilee is a good time, Strair said, not only for looking back; but for considering the shape of the future for the Crest. Plans for beginning the next quarter century, he went on, might include pro visions for moderate controlled growth, revitalization of vthe borough's business sector, and further enhancing the quality of life for year-round residents and tourists. Biographical sketches of the candidates for the four year, $7,500-yearly posts, in the order in which they appear on the ballot, follow: • Francis J. "Frank" McCall, a member of the borough commission for four years, heads the department of .public works. A resident of the borough 15 years, he is single, and operates a restaurant supply business. • Robert E. "Bob" Young was born and raised in Wildwood Crest. He retired as an AT&T executive after 39 years. He and his wife. Virginia, haVe11 children, with the youngest graduating from high school this year • Charles "Chuck" Guhr, currently director of revenue and finance, has been a borough resident 28 years. He and his wife. B. Kathryn. have one son. Charles III, who is associated with his father in Charles Guhr and Co.. stationers, in Wildwood • Mayor John Pantalone is also director of public safety. He too, was born in the Crest, at the old Margaret Mace Hospital He is associated with his wife, Carole, in the Hoffman Agency, a Crest real estate firm • Dr. Harvey C. Strair has lived in the borough for nine years. He is an oral surgeon, with offices in Court House. He and his wife, Donna, have two daughters, Randee. 13, and Melissa. 10. He Whs a member . of the tourist council in the borough last year. • George Denham is in his third year as chairman of the Zoning Board of Ad-

— 4 XOffSrqfD OlEST TXT. S&Egrjeai — 1 " . 1 CREST PIER Doru |

jusiment. A manufacturer's agent, he is the father of six children. He,' has been on the zoning boa rt^ five years. He is also vice president of. the Greater Wildwood 'Little League and a member of the Crest Civic Association. Residents will have a chance to assess the candidates first hand at a "candidates -peoples" night slated 8 p.m. Monday, May 6, by the Crest Civic Association at the Church of the Assumption, Seaview Avenue. POLL Electorate Reasonably Informed By ED HARNETT WILDWOOD CREST - If. as a political pundit once remarked, an informed electorate is essential to the smooth working of a democracy, this borough is in reasoaSfcjy good shape. In an informal and highly unscientific telephone poll conducted last week, five of the 10 Crest residents reached on the phone knew there is a municipal election coming up this month. Only three were certain of the date, and only two could list correctly all the candidates (six) seeking the three borough commission seats. Five of the respondents were familiar with the issues, mentioning the Crest Pier, curbs on condominium development, and beach fees (which all six candidates have labeled a nonissue). Not falling into the categories above are the pleasant young mother who was too busy feeding her baby to talk about politics, and another woman who was entertaining at lunch, but had concluded her hostessing and was no longer available on a callback. Not to mention one family which had just moved into the Crest, another just moving out, and another woman whose changed number, as relayed by the operator, turned out to be for her new hnome in Villas. There were a lot of "no answers" in the 33 calls that were dailed. Perhaps illustrative of one problem facing politicians — and pollsters — in the Crest, six telephones called were ten^ . porarily disconnected. Itls unlikely any of those subscribers will be taking any part in May's election.