Swift is in the race; lone incumbent seeking re-election is joined on slate by Carl Smallwood and Maury Blumberg

By SUZANNE MARINO
Staff Writer
MARGATE – The field is getting crowded with candidates as Margate heads full-swing into the campaign season for the May 8 City Commission election.
The latest slate to enter the race for the Margate City Commission is that of incumbent City Commissioner John Swift, Carl Smallwood and Maury Blumberg.
Swift said he is extremely pleased to be sharing a ticket with two people so well respected and well liked in the community.
“Carl and Maury bring leadership, experience, character, and a true love of Margate to the election, and I think it’s great they have decided to get involved at this level,” said Swift.
The three have been meeting to discuss the city’s needs and have pledged to work together and be open to input from residents to develop a common vision to help keep Margate moving forward as an exceptional community.
“Our goal is to develop a spirit of consensus and cooperation. That’s what the people want, and it’s what they deserve,” Smallwood said.
Smallwood moved to Margate from Longport in 1968. He and his wife, Gerri, raised two sons who attended Margate schools and were active in Margate Recreation programs. Smallwood earned his degree from Glassboro State College and spent a 35-year career in the Atlantic City School District teaching at many levels, and at the conclusion of his career he was the director of guidance. He was a member of the Margate Beach Patrol for 28 years and has served on many committees. Smallwood has served as both a Little League and Senior League baseball coach, is a member of the Margate Board of Education, the Margate Hall of Fame Committee and a member of the Juvenile Intervention Panel.
Maury Blumberg was born and raised in Margate.
He is a 1982 graduate of Vanderbilt University and received a bachelor of science degree in engineering. His business experience includes 21 years in sales and operations management for Honeywell International. He and his wife, Laurie, returned to Margate eight years ago to raise their twin daughters at the beach. He is senior vice president of sales and operations for Jersey Architectural Door, a family-owned business established in 1923 by his grandfather Martin Miller as Miller Masons in Atlantic City.
Blumberg is a member of the Margate City Zoning Board, Margate Little League Board and a member of the board of directors at the Best of Life Park seniors home in Atlantic City.
Swift is a Margate native son. He graduated from Atlantic City High School and went on to the University of Pennsylvania and later to Widener University School of Law, where he earned his degree at night while working during the day. The 35-year-old has a wife, Emily, and four children. Swift is a champion rower for the Margate Beach Patrol and a member of the Margate Alumni Beach Patrol.
Also in the race for City Commission are Scott Abbott, Dan Campbell and Michael Becker on one ticket and Joanne Kulzer and Burt Federman on another. And previously unsuccessful candidate Ed McMeekin announced this week that he is considering giving it another run.
Swift, Smallwood and Blumberg are just getting their campaign off the ground and said they want to meet the residents of Margate and hear what people out in the community are looking for in their candidates.
The team has planned its first meet the candidates night for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 at Steve and Cookies by the Bay on Amherst Avenue.
They said everyone in town is invited to chat and join the candidates for refreshments.
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