From 'sex slave' suit to politics: Joseph Ferraina in Long Branch spotlight

LONG BRANCH – Joseph Ferraina, the former school superintendent who unapologetically cost the city $600,000 in a sexual harassment settlement, said it's "sad" that some are trying to make his past an issue in this the upcoming city elections.

Ferraina is backing Councilman John Pallone for mayor and his involvement in the race has drawn the ire of the current mayor and others in the city.

"I wouldn't be here talking to you if there wasn't a mayoral race. They're making the election about me, and it's sad," said Ferraina, 67. "I'm not going to run from people. I'm not going to be intimidated.

Ferraina said he's been placing campaign lawn signs and telling people to vote for Pallone's five-member Long Branch First ticket for mayor and city council.

The non-partisan election is May 8. The mayor's office and all five council seats are up for grabs. All seats are four-year terms.

Pallone, 62, ran unsuccessfully against Mayor Adam Schneider in 1994. Schneider has been mayor since 1990.

School board member Avery Grant, 84, is also running for mayor.

Ferraina, who talks about his past and politics in the above video, has stirred controversy recently after telling two members of West End/Long Branch NJ Watchdog, a Facebook community group of roughly 3,000 members, that "debates are for losers."

Group member Anna Sweeney, 22, of Long Branch, said Ferraina made the comment when she went to Pallone's campaign headquarters to confirm that Pallone would participate in an April 11 debate organized by the West End Facebook group.

Pallone and his team did not attend the debate, which was held at the middle school. Pallone told an Asbury Park Press reporter he had a prior engagement.

Pallone confirmed that Ferraina is helping with the campaign. Pallone, the younger brother of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), said he was not concerned with backlash in the #MeToo era from the 2014 sexual harassment settlement.

"Joe is a supporter. We have supporters from throughout the city. The campaign is about Long Branch, not the past history of one supporter," Pallone said.

Long Branch election: John Pallone outspending opponents

Ferraina, who had a 38-year career in the city's school system, was accused by former school administrative assistant Adele Russo of keeping her as a "sex slave" during business hours, according to a Press story on the lawsuit.

Ferraina's office had a shower, a bar and was soundproof and secure, the suit claimed.

A Monmouth County grand jury reviewed Russo's sex claims but Ferraina was not charged, according to reports at the time.

In terms of the settlement, there was no admission of wrongdoing by Ferraina or the district.

Ferraina was one of the highest paid superintendents in the state, earning $242,550 when he retired in 2011, just weeks before the lawsuit was filed. He also took home $600,000 in unused sick and vacation days when he retired.

Russo has since moved out of state, according to her attorney Gary E. Fox. He said he and Russo couldn't speak about the case because of the terms of the settlement agreement.

Since the suit, Ferraina has continued to live in Long Branch and remained active in city politics. He is a regular at Caputo's Pastry Shop and is often seen walking the boardwalk each morning.

He helped plan and raise funds for the non-profit K.E.Y.S. Academy, an addiction recovery high school administered by the Matawan-Aberdeen School District.

Two former Long Branch teachers who worked for Ferraina are now working for Matawan and help run the academy.

"(Campaigning for Pallone) is not a second chance for me. Tell me, show me what I did wrong?" Ferraina said.

Related: John Pallone a no-show at first Long Branch debate

More: With Grant in, Long Branch has a three-horse mayoral race

More: John Pallone 'seriously considering' run for Long Branch mayor

Noreen Farrell, executive director of Equal Rights Advocates, a national women's rights group based in California, said settlements don't mean guilt, but Ferraina put himself in a situation "where his character is going to be called into the spotlight."

Ferraina, who backed Grant for mayor in 2014, said he was going to run for mayor in 2018 if nobody else stepped up to challenge Schneider. He said he stepped down when Pallone decided to run.

Schneider said Ferraina won't run because of his past.

"Joe was never going to run. He brings too much baggage. The town spent $600,000 because of his behavior. It was about as ugly as it can be," Schneider said.

Ferraina and Schneider have a long-standing feud that apparently began in 1995 over Schneider's use of the high school's weight room.

Schneider said he was first invited by the football coach to lift weights with the team in 1993, during his first term as mayor. Ferraina, who became superintendent the next year, said school policy permitted only coaches and staff in the weight room. Ferraina barred Schneider from working out with the athletes on school property.

The two city leaders have butted heads ever since.

"It's no secret that Joe (Ferraina) doesn't like me, and that's OK. It's clear John (Pallone) is listening to him," Schneider said. "He lacks the ability to think for himself."

Pallone claims Schneider panders to out-of-town developers.

Grant served on the school board for much of Ferraina's career, including the lawsuit, but he was absent on Jan. 24, 2014, when the board voted to accept the settlement.

He said the two have remained friendly over the years.

"People may not like associating with him because he's a bit of a target. I still like him, back then he got five new schools built. But I didn't like all that stuff with the lawsuit and I told him that," Grant said.

Dan Radel: Twitter@danielradelapp; 732-643-4072; dradel@gannettnj.com