The Borough of Deal is holding an election on May 13, 2008, to elect its borough commissioners to another four-year term, including Mayor Harry Franco. Franco has served as mayor of Deal, New Jersey since 1995, when he took over for retiring mayor Stanley R. Katz, and became the first Sephardic Jewish mayor in the nation.

Mayor Franco is running on the platform “Leadership With Proven Experience,” along with Dorothy O'Donnell and Morris Ades, who together have formed the Franco, O'Donnell and Ades Team. For the second time in 60 years, however, the election is being contested. There is a fourth person running for three available spots, Patrick Burgdorf.

Once referring to Deal as the “Jewel of the Jersey Shore,” Franco hopes a large turnout by the Syrian community will “affirm our commitment to maintaining Deal's high standards and improving the quality of life we now enjoy, and would have direct and positive impact in further strengthening our position in Deal, by focusing on the needs and requirements of our community,” he said during a phone interview.

Prior to becoming mayor of Deal, Franco served the community as one of the borough commissioners. He is also an honorary member of the Deal First Aid Squad. During this time, Franco was instrumental in pushing the Deal Casino to relax its rules regarding summer residents of Deal, in order to encourage the Sephardic youth to socialize more freely in a supportive environment, noting that “summer residents come here for a change of pace from the hectic environment of Brooklyn.”

Dorothy O'Donnell became the first woman to serve as a commissioner in the Borough of Deal when she was appointed in 1994. In addition to holding the office of commissioner, O'Donnell served on the Municipal Welfare and Election Boards for many years, and was appointed to the town's Planning Board. She also served as Centennial Chairwoman during the Deal Centennial in 1998.

Morris Ades has lived in Deal for over 40 years, and has served the borough with honor and dignity as Chairman of Deal's Planning and Zoning Boards since 1989. Ades is seeking his first full term as commissioner, since being appointed to replace Dennis Dayan, who recently resigned.

Mayor Franco and the Board of Commissioners have succeeded in securing more than $3 million in grants from federal, state and local agencies for Capital Improvement Projects, in order to improve the quality of life in Deal, with minimal impact on Deal's tax rate.

Here are some highlights of their accomplishments: reconstructed the Sydney Avenue Bridge and developed a program to replace curbs and pavement in the borough, using money from the Department of Transportation Pedestrian Safety and New Jersey Transit Grant; repaired and replaced sanitary sewers on six streets, using a Community Block Grant; repaved Norwood Avenue and four other major streets; built a new, state-of-the-art police headquarters with community block grants; added an extension to the Administrative Building; renovated and improved the Deal Casino, including a new baby pool, deck, entrance, lounges, umbrellas, beach services and a new restaurant.

The Borough of Deal holds elections every four years to elect three borough commissioners, who in turn appoint the mayor. The election will be held on May 13, 2008 at the Deal school, and polls are open from 6 am until 8 pm. All registered voters in Deal are encouraged to vote for Mayor Franco, Morris Ades and Dorothy O'Donnell.
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Harriet J. Roffe has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Rockefeller College for Public Affairs in Albany, NY. She currently works for a NYC government agency as a researcher.