‘It’s Just Time’ Pagliughi Stepping Down as Avalon Mayor After 32 Prosperous Years
There’s a well-known realtor on the Seven Mile Beach who for years has used this pitch: “Come for a week, stay for a lifetime.” Who knew that Avalon’s mayor, Martin Pagliughi, would take it so literally?
“I came to Avalon in the summer during college and never left,” Pagliughi says. That would be back in the summer of 1976 when he and several friends found a rental perfectly located near the legendary Bongo Room in the Avalon Hotel. “It was convenient, we never had too far to go,” he adds with a smile.
Fast-forward a decade or so and the college kid who was born and raised in Vineland never strayed far from a three-block radius on the north end of the island. That’s about when then-mayor Ellsworth Armacost twisted Pagliughi’s arm a bit and persuaded him to serve on Avalon’s planning and zoning board. The next logical step for Pagliughi was a seat on Avalon’s Borough Council, which he also chaired during his term.
It’s funny how fate can play an unexpected role in our lives. Pagliughi only became acquainted with the Seven Mile Beach as a youngster when his family vacationed in Avalon after being driven from Strathmere by erosion and damage caused by the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962. Ironically, the adult Pagliughi would become a well-known leader in the field of beach protection and replenishment, striving to protect the homes and lives here on this barrier island.
There’s no question that Avalon has experienced unprecedented growth and progress during Pagliughi’s tenure as mayor.
And don’t think Avalon’s growth has gone unnoticed outside the boundaries of the borough. Former Gov. Chris Christie holds Avalon’s mayor in high esteem. “Marty Pagliughi is one of the great local leaders in the state of New Jersey during my lifetime,” Christie said in a recent phone interview with Seven Mile Times. Pretty impressive stuff.
So, while there had been rumors circulating for some time, it was still a bit of a surprise late last winter when Pagliughi announced that he would not seek reelection. “It’s just time,” he says during a relaxed conversation in his Borough Hall office. “I’ve seen too many of my friends pass recently. Enough is enough. I think that we have the town in a good place right now. I’d like to take some time for myself at this point.”
Who can blame him? It’s been a great run. It’s also been a long run: 32 years, dating back to Monday, July 1, 1991. That’s the day that Martin Pagliughi Jr. was sworn in at the old Avalon Borough Hall by his father, the Honorable Martin Pagliughi Sr. Reports from that day estimated that more than several hundred people were on hand, including former Avalon mayors Rachel Sloan and Richard Light.
Thirty-two years, but if you’re one of those fascinated by numbers, here’s one for you: Marty Pagliughi’s tenure as mayor of Avalon will have run a span of 11,687 days. So sure, who could blame him for finally wanting to take a little time for himself and his family? He’s earned it.
He obviously had no idea what all would be involved back in the mid-’80s when then-Mayor Ellsworth Armacost called him into what eventually would be his office to talk about a seat on Avalon’s Zoning and Planning Board. That conversation would end up spanning three decades and evolve into him being recognized as Avalon’s greatest public servant ever.
“I’ve always referred to him as the mayor of mayors,” says Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio, who also recently took on the role of director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners. “During his time in office, mayors from all over the state, me included, have reached out to him for his advice and counsel.”
Obviously much has changed since that 86-degree day in July 1991 when Pagliughi took office. For example, on that day you could order a taco dinner at Tortilla Flats for $5.99, rice and beans included. Seafood? How about clams and linguine at Tim Kerr’s beachfront Crab House for just $11.99. And if you had set your sights on “staying longer than a vacation,” Century 21 Real Estate was advertising a year-round rental, four bedrooms and three baths, for $650 a month. Oh, and Avalon’s tax ratables were an impressive $1,678,843,148 in 1991. Today, as Pagliughi prepares to leave the office, ratables have grown to a staggering $9,783,453,700. That’s an increase of 583%! Even when adjusted for inflation, that number is simply remarkable.
As Pagliughi explains it, that was the plan. He was frustrated by the infighting in Avalon’s government that he observed as a member of council. “Nothing was getting done,” he still remembers so clearly. “So, I decided to put my money where my mouth was – and run for mayor.” In his opinion, “things could be done a lot better. Dick Dean [who ran for council] and I were committed to making a difference.”
Pagliughi ran unopposed for the office of mayor that spring, something he’d do on seven more occasions. “Why would anyone want to run against him?” wonders longtime Avalon resident and business owner Jacquie Ewing. “It’s hard to improve on perfection.”
Pagliughi will be the first to admit that things haven’t always been perfect. “We’ve made mistakes along the way,” he points out. “But we’ve tried to learn from our mistakes. Most importantly, I believe, is that we tried to listen to the people. We work for them, so it’s important that we listen to them …
“When we took office, we wanted to do things the right way. The goal was to make Avalon an even more desirable destination.”
The list of accomplishments is considerable, but the two projects that Pagliughi takes the most pride in are the Avalon Free Public Library and the borough’s beach replenishment and protection programs. Today, Avalon’s library is nationally recognized and, in just a decade, has assumed its place as not just a library but Avalon’s social hub year-round. Pagliughi pushed for Avalon to withdraw from the county library system and operate its own independent library, a move that he predicted would make the most sense of the borough’s tax dollars. It has.
Avalon’s beaches were in a precarious situation back in the 1990s. High tides frequently flooded first floors of homes on the north end of the island. The town, at the time, utilized whatever it could to reinforce the beaches, including dirt and cement. Pagliughi likes to remind everyone, “Everything that happens in this town happens because we have a beach.” Yes, it’s that important. Three decades later, Avalon is recognized as a national leader in beach replenishment and protection. The borough is one of only a handful (literally) of towns nationwide that have achieved a Community Rating System of 3 – which affords homeowners a 35% discount on their flood insurance rates. Moody’s also mentioned Avalon’s oceanfront stability as one of the reasons it lowered Avalon’s bond rating when recognizing Avalon’s reliability.
Simply gazing around town offers more evidence of the Pagliughi era’s accomplishments. Surfside Park has quickly developed into the go-to spot for outdoor entertainment in town. Enviable recreation facilities exist for soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, and the fastest-growing sport in the nation, pickleball.
The Association of Pickleball Professionals thought enough of Avalon’s world-class court facilities to add the town to its 2023 national tournament schedule. You’ll find the Avalon date in September, right in between Chicago and Dallas. Yes, that’s Chicago, Avalon, and then Dallas.
Aside from having one of the lowest tax rates in the state, today Avalon is also the only municipality in Cape May County to have zero debt service, a distinction that Pagliughi and Avalon worked a decade to achieve. “Our plan has always been to try to make the right decisions,” Pagliughi says, “keeping in mind long-term planning and doing things that can be cost effective.” One example was privatizing Avalon’s water and sewer operations, which saved the borough approximately $1.5 million in the first year. The number of borough employees has been significantly reduced as well. Other notable enhancements around town under Pagliughi include Veteran’s Plaza; The Senior Center; brought the Bay Atlantic Symphony to Avalon; Upgraded public dock system and The Kayak storage and launch beach to name but a few. Pagliughi is also the driving force behind Friend In Need, a charitable concern that has raised millions for needy.
Pagliughi is also quick to point out that he was never solely responsible for Avalon’s successes. “We’ve been very lucky over the years to have a great borough council,” he says. “Council has been blessed with a dedicated group of people who have spent many years in town and understand the work that had to be done. I’m thankful to all of them as well as to Avalon’s borough employees. They’ve been there day and night, through natural disasters, and they are all responsible for keeping the Avalon that we all enjoy so much.”
It’s that group on the current borough council, led by mayor-elect John McCorristin, that will take the baton from Pagliughi in July. “And I have all the faith in the world that John and council will continue the work that we done over the last three decades,” Pagliughi adds.
Perhaps the best way to sum up the tenure as mayor of Marty Pagliughi was offered by longtime U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo. “Marty was relentless working for Avalon over three decades,” he said recently in an interview with Seven Mile Times. “Avalon is clearly a better place today after having Marty’s involvement in its government.”
Who could argue?
What They’re Saying
“On behalf of Mayor Robert Blais, the nation’s longest-serving mayor, and the Village of Lake George, N.Y., we congratulate Mayor Pagliughi on his more than three decades of service and wish for him to have a happy and healthy retirement.”
- Robert Blais, recently retired Lake George mayor (took office in 1971)
“From my first day as mayor, Marty reached out and offered his assistance. The issues of beach replenishment, back bay dredging, and island flooding are common to both boroughs and Marty was invaluable to me in getting me up to speed and introducing me to the legislators and organizations who could help all of Seven Mile Island. While some will always refer to the ‘feud’ between Avalon and Stone Harbor, nothing could be further from the truth. I am proud to call Marty and Lynda my friends and wish them both a long and very relaxing retirement.”
- Suzanne Walters, former Stone Harbor mayor
“Our families go back a long way with our roots in Vineland. We both ran for assembly in 1989 and have remained very close ever since. Marty has always been about – what can he do for his community. Avalon is clearly a better place today, having Marty’s involvement in government. He was relentless for over three decades, putting his time and effort into making Avalon what it is today. Marty is one of the most dedicated, hardworking and committed public servants I have ever met, and a more loyal friend you could never ask for. I wish him all the best in the future.”
- Frank LoBiondo, U.S. Rep. 1995-2019
“Marty Pagliughi is one of the great local leaders in New Jersey during my lifetime. He’s always stood up for the people of Avalon. When Superstorm Sandy hit, I relied on him for expertise and guidance. He and Lynda are also great personal friends of Mary Pat and I and I wish him the best.”
- Chris Christie, former N.J. governor
“During Marty’s 32 years as mayor, and 36 years in New Jersey government, he has accomplished great things for the Borough of Avalon. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Marty on numerous issues throughout the years and he is the epitome of a dedicated public servant. He was a great mayor and I know he will be missed, but I wish him nothing but a happy and healthy retirement.”
- U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew
“And then there was one.
“As the two longest-serving mayors in the county, you and I have tackled numerous issues – the big and the small -- affecting our respective communities over the past three decades.
“Throughout this time, I have known you as many things: a respected colleague, a trusted partner, an insightful mentor, a true leader. But perhaps most important of all, you have been a dear friend.
“As you exit ‘the arena,’ I thank you for your many years of service and friendship, and I wish you a long, happy, and healthy retirement from public life.
“Congratulations, my friend.”
- William Pikolycky, Woodbine mayor
“It has been a very pleasurable and honorable experience to have served with Marty during his entire tenure. I have served with many elected federal, state, county and municipal officials and Marty ranks among the highest of all who served. Marty has always been hardworking, honorable, and sincere in his efforts to serve the public. He has been very loyal to me personally and I have had the good fortune of working side by side with him for many years on numerous projects. He especially should be recognized as the county director of emergency management. He created the County Central Dispatch System and as chairman of the Public Safety Committee he has worked with federal, state, county, and local law enforcement to protect the county. Marty has been recognized nationally and state-wide as an expert in policy and programs concerning emergency management. During emergencies and county crises, I have spent three and four days at a time with him in the Emergency Operations Center and always valued his expertise and advice when we would make far-reaching and critical decisions to protect our county residents and visitors.
“I wish Marty and Lynda well in his well-deserved retirement. Cape May County is a much better and safer place because of Marty Pagliughi.”
- Jerry Thornton, former director, Cape May County Board of Commissioners
“I always referred to Mayor Pagliughi as ‘The Mayor of Mayors.’
“During his time as Mayor of Avalon, mayors from other towns and I – including those from other parts of the state – have reached out to him for advice and to seek his counsel.
“Mayor Pagliughi lived for Avalon 24/7, and no doubt he will continue to do so during his retirement.
“I am proud to call him my friend, and I wish him and his lovely wife, Lynda, all the best.”
- Leonard Desiderio, Sea Isle City mayor; director, Cape May County Board of Commissioners
“Mr. Pagliughi has always been a gentleman and treated me and all of Ocean City’s taxpayers with absolute respect. His expertise in emergency management helped protect Ocean City residents during Superstorm Sandy and through many other emergency events. He will be greatly missed.”
- Jay Gillian, Ocean City mayor
“There seems to be some confusion. People have been asking me for months if I’m retiring. I’m not sure why people have always confused us but please, let me clarify, I am not planning to retire anytime soon and we’re all going to miss you because you’ve done one hell of a job over the last 30-plus years. Cheers!”
- Greg Meredith, aka “The Mayor”
“Marty Pagliughi has been a cornerstone of Avalon for the more than three decades he has served as mayor. The continued prosperity of Avalon is due in no small part to his tireless leadership and dedication to his community. Congratulations to Marty and Lynda for starting a well-deserved retirement! I wish you years of health and new adventures together.”
- State Sen. Michael Testa