By PETE WALTON
Bradley Beach will hire Kim Humphrey-Gonzales as its new borough administrator.
She will replace David G. Brown II of Long Branch, who starts a new job next week as township manager in Ocean Township.
Humphrey-Gonzales most recently served as deputy finance director of Monmouth County.
She was the Highlands borough administrator from 2018 through 2020 after a short stint as interim administrator.
“After over 30 applications and multiple interviews, we have an offer and acceptance from Kim Gonzales,” said Mayor Larry Fox at this week’s meeting of the Borough Council. “She brings some great experience, energy, and approach, and will serve Bradley Beach well.”
Council President Al Gubitosi, who took part in interviewing the three finalists for the job, said Humphrey-Gonzales was “awesome, at least [from] my perspective.”
“She’s going to be a great addition to the borough and I look forward to having her join us,” Gubitosi said. “She had an answer for every question and seemed very confident and very assured that she could really help us in moving forward.”
Before becoming the Highlands administrator in January 2018, Humphrey-Gonzales worked there for nearly four years as a qualified purchasing agent and senior account clerk. She spent 3 1/2 years as a purchasing agent in nearby Atlantic Highlands after more than 14 years of service to Keansburg in various finance department roles. She was certified as a qualified purchasing agent by the state Department of Community Affairs after studying municipal finance at Rutgers University.
Humphrey-Gonzales is also certified as an emergency medical technician and instructor. Since 2015, she has been treasurer of the Jersey Shore Gaelic Athletic Association, a group promoting Irish sports such as hurling and Gaelic football. The mother of five also served on the executive board of the Jersey Shore Rugby Association and has been involved with the Irish heritage organization Comhaltas Ceolt.
Bradley Beach, like Highlands, holds nonpartisan municipal elections. Humphrey-Gonzales cited her ability to work with all sides on the challenges facing local governments in a 2019 interview.
“I always make sure my council knows I represent them,” she told The Monmouth Journal newspaper. “I am a neutral party who will always give the most facts I can to assist them with their governing decisions. In my administrative role with borough employees, I always say to them that we spend more time together in a day than we do our own family at times. My job is to make sure they are happy with their jobs, all while making sure they are fulfilling their duties.”
