CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Former North Wildwood mayor Patrick Rosenello, already running for a seat on the Cape May County Board of Commissioners in the November election, was appointed to the body April 14.
The board appointed him to fill in the unexpired term of Melanie Collette, who resigned from the board in March but was immediately hired as the county’s new public information officer. Fellow Commissioner Will Morey also will finish his term at the end of the year and chose not to run for re-election. Collette and Morey are Republicans.
Rosenello and Curtis Bashaw of Cape May are the Republicans endorsed by the Cape May County Republican Organization to run in the fall election for full terms on the board.
They will be facing Democrats Eric J. Morey and David Temple.
Rosenello will serve the remainder of Collette’s term, which expires Dec. 31.
“All of my priorities are focused on one outcome I hold dear: ensuring that future generations are blessed with the opportunity to raise their families and prosper in this great and beautiful place we call home,” Rosenello said in a press release issued by the Board of Commissioners. “Our county faces significant challenges, including housing affordability, improving education, protecting our beaches and expanding year-round economic opportunities. I am eager to get to work with my fellow commissioners to address these concerns.”
Rosenello moved to North Wildwood from Levittown, Pa.,, as a boy. He attended Wildwood Catholic High School and graduated from the Catholic University of America in 1995. Rosenello began his career in public service as a legislative aide to Republican U.S. Congresswoman Sue Kelly and later served as communications director for N.J. State Sen. Nick Asselta. He served on the North Wildwood School Board before being elected to the North Wildwood City Council in 2004, saving 10 years, including nine as president. He served as mayor of North Wildwood for 12 years, beginning in 2014, before returning to City Council in 2026.
Rosenello will assume the oversight of the following County departments through the end of 2026: Prosecutor’s Office, Tax Board, Superintendent of Schools, Technical High School, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Consumer Affairs/Weights and Measures, according to the release.
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