PETERSBURG — Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen and Committeeman Tyler Casaccio have no opponents on the ballot for their seats on Township Committee.
Nappen won his seat unopposed in 2022, taking over for John Coggins, who chose not to seek re-election. He was named deputy mayor in the beginning of 2025, when Curtis Corson was chosen as mayor, Zack Palombo, Sam Palombo and Casaccio joined the governing body.
Nappen, 40, and his wife, Danielle, have three children.
“Family is at the heart of everything I do, and raising my kids here is a big reason I am committed to serving this community,” he said.
They are active members of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, while the children are involved in local sports and athletics.
Nappen grew up in the township.
“Growing up here instilled in me the values of hard work, faith and community service, which continue to guide me today,” he said.
Nappen is a science teacher at Millville High School, he also operates South Jersey Screen Repair.
“Being both an educator and entrepreneur has given me a unique perspective on the importance of responsibility, accountability and supporting others,” he said.
In addition to serving on Township Committee, he coaches youth sports.
“I want to serve because I believe in Upper Township and want to continue building a strong future for our families,” Nappen said.
He feels he provides a mix of leadership as a teacher, real-world problem-solving as a business owner and community engagement as a coach and volunteer.
“I pride myself on being approachable and responsive to residents while keeping a strong focus on fiscal responsibility,” he said.
Nappen believes the top issues are:
— Keeping taxes stable while maintaining high-quality services.
— Managing growth responsibly to preserve our small-town character.
— Maintaining and improving infrastructure, including roads and recreation facilities.
— Supporting local businesses and creating opportunities for residents.
— Ensuring our schools and neighborhoods remain strong and safe.
“We can address these challenges through careful planning, responsible spending and open communication with residents,” Nappen said. “I will continue to work on protecting taxpayer dollars, supporting our schools and public safety, and strengthening opportunities for families and businesses while ensuring that the unique character of Upper Township is preserved for generations to come.”
Casaccio was appointed to fill the position vacated prematurely by former committeeman Mark Pancoast, who resigned in December, a year before his term would have expired. Casaccio now is seeking a three-year term.
The 34-year-old is a lifelong township resident who is in charge of maintenance for his family business.
The 2009 Ocean City High School graduate and his wife, Darcy — also a lifelong township resident — have two young children, who are the fifth generation of his family living locally.
Casaccio has strong family ties to the township. His grandfather Ralph Clayton is an accomplished businessman who developed much of the township and his father Paul Casaccio has been chairman of the Upper Township Zoning Board for more than 20 years and currently is in charge of the family business. His mother served on the Board of Education for nine years.
Casaccio and his father operate five self-storage facilities, five mobile home parks and various commercial and residential real estate properties.
“With that experience, I have become a well-rounded tradesman and property manager. My father is an accountant by trade and schooled me in the understanding of budgeting and money management of our many different avenues of business,” he said.
Casaccio said as a business operator, vested interest in the community’s success.
“I am proud to live in Upper Township and feel that I have a great perspective on how to move the community forward while still keeping our hometown concept,” he said. “I take great pride in what I do for a living, providing exceptional customer service and quality products. I strive to carry over that same concept in government, providing that same service for our town’s taxpayers.”
With experience as a developer, he said he understands the inner workings of permitting, inspections, property taxes and how to make municipal government more efficient.
Casaccio said one of his goals is generating ratables.
“With state funding becoming more and more unpredictable and the school system encompassing more and more [taxes], a massive priority for me is attracting businesses to help offset the expenses and keep property taxes manageable while maintaining high-quality town services,” he said.
Casaccio said another challenge is balancing development with the small-town atmosphere.
“With Ocean City’s rapid development and commercialization; Upper Township finds itself at an inflection point,” he said. “While there are properties that show great business and commercial potential, Upper Township is a community that thrives on local economy and small-town feel.”
He said three things that make the community attractive are its safety, quality school system and reasonable tax rate.
“My goal going forward is to maintain those three priorities in every decision I make,” he said.
Casaccio is liaison to the Beesley’s Point Development Group, which is planning a major commercial and residential development at the former power plant site.
He said he grew up in Beesleys Point, playing on the former golf course and swimming at the beach.
“I understand the unique neighborhood that Beesleys Point has become with the bridge being closed while understanding the business opportunity and tax revenue potential that unique property has to offer,” Casaccio said. “Being a developer, I understand the value of giving businesses the opportunity to grow while balancing neighborhood and community involvement.”
Thus, he said, his goal for the development is to “maximize tax revenue and balance neighborhood quality and traffic and the small-town feel.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
