Belmar Mayor Gerald Buccafusco resigned on July 1, and a vote to replace him could come as early as tonight.
The possible contender to fill the remaining six months of Buccafusco’s term is Caitlin Donovan, the Democratic nominee for mayor in the November general election.
Buccafusco, a Democrat, was not a candidate for re-election to a second term. He has struggled to get along with colleagues from both parties.
He said he resigned “in order to focus on my health and family.”
“Serving the residents of Belmar has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply thankful for the time I have spent serving this incredible community and for all that we have been able to accomplish together during my administration. Throughout my time as Mayor, I have always remained committed to the well-being of our town and to putting the people of Belmar first in every decision made,” Buccafusco stated. “This was not an easy choice, and it is with a heavy heart that I step away from office. However, I know this is the right decision for myself and my family at this time.”
Last year, Republicans took control of the borough council by flipping two seats, giving them a 4-1 majority. The council president, Republican Jodi Kinney, has been acting mayor since last week.
The Democratic county committee must submit three names to the council, who can either pick one, or send it back to the Democrats to name an interim mayor.
Councilman Mike DeBlasio, who won in 2025, is the Republican nominee.
If Republicans pick Donovan, it will trigger a council vacancy. Donovan is giving up her council seat to run for mayor; Democrat Johanna Roper-Robinson and Republican Suzanne Anan are competing for the open council seat.
“As a Council, we have spent the last month working together to fulfill various staff vacancies, including the borough administrator, the chief financial officer, and the tax collector,” the four councilmembers said in a statement. “We prioritized candidates with deep expertise who share our values of transparency, responsiveness and public service, and we are looking forward to introducing our new team members to the public very soon.”