John Pallone will seek third term as Long Branch mayor

Long Branch Mayor John Pallone will seek re-election to a third term as mayor in the May 12 non-partisan municipal election.

Incumbents Anita Voogt and Glen Rassas will seek another term on Pallone’s slate, along with David G. Brown II, a former Monmouth County Democratic chairman, attorney Marcos Zalta, and Planning Board Chairman Paulo Barateiro.

“Long Branch is moving forward because of teamwork, smart investment, and a deep commitment to our residents,” Pallone stated. “This council slate reflects the experience, dedication, and diversity of our city.”

The Pallone Team for Long Branch reported cash-on-hand of $257,418 as of the end of September 2025.

Pallone was elected in 2018 after crushing Adam Schneider, a 28-year incumbent and a bitter rival of his brother, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch).  Pallone beat Schneider by 29 percentage points.

Frank Pallone and Schneider began their political careers as close friends and allies, but the relationship soon deteriorated amidst political squabbles in their hometown.

Pallone was a 30-year-old attorney when he started his political career in Long Branch, where he was elected to the city council in 1982.  The following year, he won a State Senate seat in an upset victory against Republican incumbent Brian Kennedy.

After he was elected to Congress in 1988, he wanted Schneider to take his council seat.  Mayor Philip Huhn broke a tie by appointing Bob Wainright to the seat.  Pallone took the race so seriously that he pushed then-Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Florio to come to Long Branch and endorse Schneider.  Schneider beat Wainright in a 1989 special election for Pallone’s unexpired term.

When Huhn decided not to run for re-election in 1990, Schneider was elected mayor.  John Pallone, Frank’s younger brother, was elected councilman in the Schneider ticket.

The Pallone/Schneider alliance deteriorated over the next four years, some say because John Pallone wanted to do things – like buy a fire truck – and Schneider refused to cooperate.  The blood became so bad that John Pallone ran against the mayor in 1994.

Schneider beat Pallone by 530 votes, 3,226 to 2,606, with 475 votes going to a third candidate, Councilman Michael Palughi.

John Pallone returned to the city council in 2010, narrowly beating Schneider-backed candidate Al Menckin by about ten votes.  He was re-elected in 2014.