Anthony Inserra files to run for committee as Independent
UPPER TOWNSHIP — Challengers Zachary Palombo and Samuel Palombo defeated incumbents Mayor Jay Newman and Deputy Mayor Kim Hayes handily in the Republican primary election June 4.
Zach Palombo garnered the most votes of the four with 1,417 and cousin Sam Palombo was close behind with 1,408 to secure the nomination for Township Committee in the November election.
No Democrats had filed petitions to challenge as of the deadline June 4 but former Committeeman Anthony Inserra has filed to run as an Independent in the general election.
Newman was third with 970 votes and Hayes fourth with 885, according to unofficial results posted at capemaycountyvotes.com.
“The margin was an indicator that people definitely wanted some change and we are glad to have the support,” Zach Palombo said. “Now we will be focusing on getting both sides back together and getting back to being a community.”
He said the best part of the campaign was getting to know the constituents.
“It was really rewarding to go out and talk to people face to face and have conversations about what people want in the township,” Zach Palombo said. “That’s something my father instilled in Sam and I. We need to get back to listening to people in the township.”
Zach Palombo is superintendent of the Cape May City School District and Sam Palombo is a pharmaceutical sales representative. Their grandfather, Aldo Palombo, was mayor from 1994 to 2005 in North Wildwood, where he operated Palombo’s Pharmacy. Zach’s father Rich Palombo was mayor of Upper Township for 22 years.
The Palombos earned the endorsement of the Upper Township members of the Republican County Committee during the local candidate endorsement process.
Zach Palombo is an educational administration professional and former classroom teacher who now serves as superintendent of Cape May City and West Cape May school districts.
The 43-year-old and his wife, Lori, are parents to three children: Lucia, Rocco and Livia.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from The College of New Jersey in 2003, with teacher certifications in elementary and secondary history and special education.
Zach Palombo later earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from University of South Dakota in 2008 and an educational specialist degree in curriculum and instruction — focus on instructional technology in 2015. He currently is a doctoral student at the University of Idaho in educational leadership.
He started his career at Vineland High School (2004-06) and Egg Harbor Township (2006-13). As a school administrator, he was supervisor of academic achievement for Lower Cape May Regional High School (2013-17), assistant principal of LCMRHS (2017-19), principal of Cape May City Elementary School (2019-21) and now is shared superintendent for Cape May and West Cape.
Zach Palombo also served 20 years on the North Wildwood Beach Patrol, retiring in 2017 as lieutenant.
During the campaign, he said he wants to be a voice for the young families and a listening ear to seniors who have chosen to retire in the township.
“Upper Township is a very unique place in that it offers the playfulness of the shore, the nostalgia of small towns and communities, and is a desirable place to raise a family,” he said.
He said the top issues the community is facing are attracting commercial ratables and repurposing the B.L. England Generating Station.
Zach Palombo said that through working with the county government and local municipalities, the township can grow small businesses to provide property tax relief and secure grants to support the necessary infrastructure of the township.
Sam Palombo, 27, is a husband and father who grew up in the township, where he played soccer, basketball and baseball while attending local schools.
“We’re very excited how the campaign went. Right now we’re moving onto November at this point,” Sam Palombo said. “We are really excited with the result.”
He said the victory really was a group effort.
“It was all about the team that we put together and how hard they worked,” he said. “We got out and talked to a lot of people and we are going to continue to do that.”
The 2014 Ocean City High School graduate participated in travel and recreational clubs and sports such as soccer, French club and Class Council. He was a member of the French Immersion Program at Upper Township Primary School and remains fluent in the language to this day.
He joined the Upper Township Beach Patrol in 2012.
“I enjoyed representing our township on the beach patrol and upholding the safety of locals and tourists during the summer months,” he said.
After graduating from OCHS, he attended the University of the Sciences seeking a degree in pharmacy. He then transferred to Stockton University, “knowing that my skill set and interests would be better suited in the field of business.”
In 2019, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in French. He took a job after graduation in outside sales for a national construction supply company.
He said during the campaign that he wants to serve on Township Committee because he believes local government is the best way to get involved and serve his community.
“Having just purchased our first home and beginning to set our roots in Upper Township, it is more important to me than ever to get involved and start serving my community,” he said. “I am currently seeking more leadership opportunities and ways to support our residents of all ages.”
Both he and his wife were children in Upper Township and “made the conscientious decision to stay here and raise our family. I feel extremely motivated to uphold the quality of life we had as children and continue to feel as though our town is worth returning to.”
Palombo said the top issues the community is facing are redevelopment of the B.L. England Generating Station site, attracting commercial ratables and school funding.
He advocates for collaboration with local and state governments to get relief and promote small businesses in Upper Township.
Palombo said it’s vital to preserve the rural character of the township amid the constant drive for development at the shore.
“It is important to appreciate what the township has while also being able to identify areas of improvement,” he said. “Development at the shore has only been increasing in recent years and as the shore towns begin to overflow, it is our job to be able to help preserve our town while adapting to new opportunities. We must make sure to balance between overdevelopment and losing out on opportunities.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
