Congressman makes rounds to administer oaths
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
NORTHFIELD — Despite being busy with his efforts to block President-elect Joe Biden from taking his place as the 46th president of the United States, U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew stopped by City Hall on Jan. 1 to swear-in newly elected City Councilman Dave Notaro on Friday.
Later that evening, he joined a Zoom meeting of Somers Point City Council to swear in two of that body’s three new members — Joseph McCarrie Jr. and Stacy Ferreri. Karen Bruno, a Democrat, was sworn in by City Clerk Lucy Samuelsen.
“This is what’s it’s all about. It’s literally what America is all about: It’s town meetings, people getting together trying to get good things done for their town, and these fellows represent that,” Van Drew said. “They are trying to do the right things to help the towns and it’s important. I want to support that, I want to help that, I want to be part of that.”
The congressman said the future of the country he knew as a child is in jeopardy and that it’s everyone’s responsibility to help stop the change.
“We are at a stage right now in America where we are going through great challenges — the greatest challenges I believe since the Civil War,” he said. “It’s not just in the congressmen’s hands, or the president or the U.S. Senate; it is in the hands of all of us to make sure that this America, that we don’t lose it. That this America will be the America that our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren are going to know.
“And I think we are at risk. We are really at a time when we have to be extra careful. We have to support people like this; they don’t get a whole lot out of it and I want them to know that — that I support them and support what they are doing. We’re all in this together, this great American experiment, and it all starts here.”
The Republican, who served in Cape May County and in the state Legislature as a Democrat, said municipal government is very important.
“People think it starts in Washington, but it doesn’t; it starts here. That’s where the American Revolution started, with regular people. Not the people who were the most sophisticated necessarily or the smoothest, but just regular hard-working Americans,” he said.
The election of Notaro and running mate Tom Polistina, who was scheduled to be sworn in during the city’s reorganization meeting Tuesday, Jan. 5, after The Sentinel’s deadline, swings control of the city back to the Republicans with a slim 4-3 majority.
Notaro previously served one term from 2005-07 as a Democrat, then lost to current councilman Brian Smith in 2007.
Now representing the GOP, Notaro defeated Democrat Lisa Lehne-Gilmore and independent Alicia Garry in the Ward 1 race to replace Democrat Susan Korngut, a one-term councilwoman who was seen as a maverick for supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and who was incorrectly accused of promoting defunding the city police department.
In Ward 2, Polistina defeated Democrat Rich DiCriscio. Polistina previously served on City Council from 2011-13 and will replace Republican Jim O’Neill, who chose not to run for re-election.
“I think we are going to have a much better working situation with the city officials, so I am very happy,” Mayor Erland Chau said. “This town has always leaned toward the Republican candidates because I think we have quality candidates who are dedicated and working for the people and always listening to the people.”
Smith, who was in attendance to support his fellow Republican, said there are “a lot of positives” about Notaro returning to the governing body.
“Dave brings experience to the position … and can hit the ground running. He knows the process. He knows the procedures and he doesn’t need to get caught up to speed,” Smith said. “He’s a small-business owner, has employees and is well respected in the neighborhood, and that’s why he’s here. We look forward to having him on our side and hopefully continue to do good things for Northfield.”
Notaro said he has plans to open communications with the city’s business community and offer support.
“I’m happy to get back here and do the best I can do for the town. I’ve lived here for 50 years and it’s the town I love,” Notaro said. “I want to get more involved with the businesses, connect them to the city a little more, give them more of a voice,” he said, noting he will be the liaison to an economic development committee made up of professionals and business owners from various disciplines, as well as representative from the city and other stakeholders.
Notaro suggested group advertising, networking functions and other measures to bring more attention to what the city has to offer.
He said he wants to “do the best I can and the right thing, and listen to the people — and not only the people who voted for me but the people that didn’t vote for me.”
Somers Point
In Somers Point, McCarrie, Ferreri and Bruno join newly appointed Council President Janice Johnston, new council president pro tempore Howard Dill, Sean McGuigan and Mike Owen on the governing body.
“What an honor to be with you. I love Somers Point, you all are doing a great job,” Van Drew said. “We’ve had a very, very challenging year and are probably going to have a challenging year this year but I’m hopeful that in some ways, especially with the pandemic, things will be better. The politics of it and fighting for the future of our country — that may still be pretty intense, and we’ve come to expect that.”
Johnston and Dill were elected unanimously to their positions.
“I just would like to start by saying ‘thank you very much’ to all of council. I really appreciate your support. I look forward to working with every single one of you. I think we are going to work well as a team,” Johnston said.
Mayor Jack Glasser wished the public a healthy and happy new year, saying better days are ahead.
“I’d like to welcome my new council people. I do look forward to working with you and as new folks come along, it’s just a new energy, a new passion and a great love for our city or else we wouldn’t be here,” Glasser said. “It’s been a tough year. We all have gone through this pandemic and how it’s affected all of our lives and I am very happy 2020 is over and there’s so much hope for the new year.”
McGuigan, the outgoing council president, thanked City Administrator Wes Swain, who retired effective Dec. 31, 2020, after 26 years on the job.
“I can’t thank him enough for his service to the city,” McGuigan said.
McCarrie, 69, is a financial manager. He and his wife of 30 years, Mariela Villa McCarrie, have four children and three grandchildren. He takes over the at-large seat held for 16 years by Carl D’Adamo, who was the lone Democrat on the governing body. He chose not to seek re-election.
Ferreri, 52, is a highly educated medical professional and veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve who has lived in the city for about four years.
She grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and had a second home in the city where her family eventually moved permanently. She said she has been visiting the city since the 1980s and met her husband, Francesco Ferreri Jr., through her parents’ interest in boating. The couple has a 27-year-old daughter, Brianna, who lives in Vineland. They have three grandchildren.
Ferreri takes over the Ward 1 seat from Kirk Gerety, who was appointed in 1995 to an at-large seat, then won re-election in 1996, 2000 and 2004 before resigning his seat at the end of 2005. He then defeated Ralph Triboletti in the 2014 election and Genevieve DeVito in 2017.
Bruno, who chose not to provide her age, has worked in the mental health field as a social worker and has taught English to adults from around the world. She previously served on the Somers Point Business School Partnership, Art Goes to School, the Parent Teacher Association and the Good Old Days festival committee.
Bruno takes over the Ward 2 seat held by James Toto, who chose not to seek re-election.
