By Carol • Gorga Williams
Coastal Monmouth Bureau
Asbury Park Press
backstory
LONG BRANCH — Planning Board Vice Chairman Edward Thomas, under fire because of comments he made at a March 18 meeting that critics said linked homosexuality to pedophilia, will leave the board on which he has served more than two decades.
Thomas said he is devastated to find his reputation in tatters, adding that it has very nearly driven him to suicide in the last few weeks. He said he will walk away from the Planning Board because it is in the best interests of the city.
Mayor Adam Schneider said at Tuesday night's City Council meeting that Thomas will resign — although Thomas, 45, had said earlier he considers the action a "retirement." Either way, his leaving had been sought by Garden State Equality, a statewide group that lobbies for civil rights for members of the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual communities.
"I take no particular pleasure in any of this," said Schneider, noting that Thomas has worked hard for the city for many years. "He did make a serious mistake five weeks ago. . . . It was clearly inappropriate, for which no excuses can be made. I'm sorry it came to this. I think Mr. Thomas recognizes it is not a pleasant way to end a career of public service."
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Thomas said he is devastated to find his reputation in tatters, adding that it has very nearly driven him to suicide in the last few weeks. He said he will walk away from the Planning Board because it is in the best interests of the city.
Mayor Adam Schneider said at Tuesday night's City Council meeting that Thomas will resign — although Thomas, 45, had said earlier he considers the action a "retirement." Either way, his leaving had been sought by Garden State Equality, a statewide group that lobbies for civil rights for members of the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual communities.
"I take no particular pleasure in any of this," said Schneider, noting that Thomas has worked hard for the city for many years. "He did make a serious mistake five weeks ago. . . . It was clearly inappropriate, for which no excuses can be made. I'm sorry it came to this. I think Mr. Thomas recognizes it is not a pleasant way to end a career of public service."
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