When his term in office ends on June 30, Vincent Lo Re will have had the distinction of being the longest serving City Council president in the history of the city, and one of three of the longest serving councilmen.
“I decided not to seek reelection a while ago,” he said during a recent interview at the Bayonne Diner near Eighth Street. “That’s why I held no fundraisers.”
People stopped him routinely to say hello, to wish him luck, or even to ask his help finding work or some other problem.
Lo Re nodded and sipped his coffee. From the window, he could easily see some of the things he has accomplished during his four terms as council president – the soon-to-be opened Bayonne Community Museum and the newest in the string of stations for the Hudson Bergen Light Rail line a half block up West Eighth Street.
“Mayor Smith needs a council that is in sync with him, people who come from his generation.” – Vincent Lo Re
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Lo Re, who retired as the associate controller at New Jersey City University in 2002, was elected to the City Council in May 1990, and has served as City Council president since July 1, 1998.
In Bayonne, winning an election requires a very personal touch – meeting people, shaking their hands, and knocking on their doors, not just sending out flyers and putting up posters. This said, Lo Re has a massive collection of campaign memorabilia in his City Council offices, which includes walls full of photographs of public officials he has met over the years, from former President Bill Clinton to former New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman.
Lo Re said he has always taken to heart advice he received from Councilman Neil DeSena when first coming onto the council.
“He said I got elected by being who I am, and that is how I should be as councilman,” Lo Re said.
In explaining why he decided this year to step down, he added, “Mayor Smith needs a council that is in sync with him, people who come from his generation.”
Lo Re, who has served as council president over the last 16 months of Mayor Smith’s term, said Smith has taken some bold and good steps to helping the city, including the change from residential development on the former Military Ocean Terminal site to focusing on commercial and office space development.
Being part of the city’s acquisition of the MOTBY is one of the things Lo Re is proud of because he said in its redevelopment lies the future of the City of Bayonne.
“Even though we are in the middle of economic difficulties, both nationally and internationally, I am an eternal optimist and believe things will be better in the future, and the future of Bayonne is in the Peninsula [development at the MOTBY site],” he said.
Access to the waterfront through either redevelopment of old industrial sites or the construction of new parks has been among the greatest changes Lo Re said he helped bring about during his term of office.
A strong supporter of education, Lo Re said Bayonne has a good school system, and is an attractive place for investment.
Perhaps his most negative assessment has to do with the general demeanor of modern society and the lack of respect among people today, especially in regards to the way the public attacks people elected to serve.
Lo Re said he isn’t going away, he’s just stepping back and taking time to enjoy life, especially with his grandchild, Sophia Elena, with whom he spends several days a week.
“Over the years, my biggest supporter has always been my wife, Janice,” he said. “Much of my success in government and in my life has been due to her.”