Longtime Teacher Seeks Council Seat

NORTH WILDWOOD — A lifelong educator wants to get more involved in her community and is doing so by throwing her hat in the ring for elective office.
Barbara Auty, 60, of 5th Avenue, is an independent Republican running for an open city council seat in the 1st Ward.
Auty told the Herald she decided to run after hearing Newark Mayor Cory Booker say, “Democracy is not a spectator sport.”
“That’s one of my favorite quotes,” she said. “It spurred me on to become a candidate.”
“I love it here and want to start helping to make it an even better place to live,” Auty said.
If elected, Auty said her goals include holding monthly meetings with the taxpayers to hear concerns and suggestions, working to secure alternate funds to improve North Wildwood’s quality of life without raising taxes and investigating shared services to benefit the community and save the taxpayers.
“This is my first attempt to enter the world of politics,” she said. “If elected, my goal is to represent the taxpayers of our community.”
Auty has over 30 years experience in education.
She taught for over 20 years in public and parochial school systems in Philadelphia and was a teacher and reading coach for 10 years at the Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood, where she authored grant applications that helped secure over $1.5 million in state funds for the local school. She also served on the finance committee for a large parish in Philadelphia.
“That finance and budgeting experience will help me on council,” she said.
She has a master’s degree in education from Gratz College in Pennsylvania and received her undergraduate degree from West Chester University.
She is currently teaching part time at Atlantic Cape Community College.
Auty’s husband Bill has been a volunteer for the Anglesea Fire Company for 10 years. He retired from the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Auty serves as a volunteer for department events and has also assisted at the North Wildwood Beach Patrol’s annual “21 Downs Day at the Beach.” Her two children have served as members of the beach patrol.
“As an independent candidate, if elected, I will work for you, my neighbors, the people of North Wildwood,” she said.