BRICK – The concept of unity was underscored throughout a meeting where three Republican council members and a Democrat mayor were sworn in.
In the November election, Mayor Lisa Crate’s vote tally was so close to Republican challenger Madeline Iannarone that Iannarone didn’t concede for more than a week later. Crate’s Democrat running mates lost by healthier margins to Iannarone’s Republican slate.
Crate was sworn into her first full term as mayor. She was appointed mayor in 2023 when Mayor John Ducey stepped down to become a Superior Court judge. She went on to win election in November 2023 to finish the final two years of Ducey’s term.
Former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno swore in the three Republicans: incumbent Councilman Perry Albanese and newcomers Gregory Cohen and Lisa Reina.
Democrats still have a 4-3 majority on council.
The council then voted on who would be the council president for the year. This is the member of council responsible for running meetings and setting the agenda. Councilman Steve Fineman was unanimously chosen by both parties. Similarly, Councilman Derrick Ambrosino was chosen as council vice president.
Crate addressed the crowd at a re-organization meeting, which is always the first meeting of the year, when people are sworn in, leadership is chosen, and professional contracts are lined up. The audience was full of council members’ families, current and former elected officials, and candidates from last year.
“I stand before you proud of what we accomplished over the last several years, and humbled” to be chosen to lead the town again, Crate said.
She listed programs Brick is successful at, such as the farmers’ market, dialysis bus, Brick Open Space Savers, senior center, and teen center. She credited the staff and council for making Brick one of the most fiscally responsible towns in the state.
“All of us up here probably agree on a lot more than is expected,” she said. “We are here to serve the people…and how we work together matters.”
She stressed that elected officials must listen to the residents – as well as each other.
“It takes both sides to build a bridge,” she said.
Disagreements aren’t a bad thing, she said. There isn’t a Democrat or a Republican way to do something like pave a road.
It probably wasn’t by accident that the Democrat mayor quoted Republican President Ronald Reagan: “by working together, pooling our resources, and building on our strengths, we can accomplish great things.”
When it came time for the council members to speak, they congratulated the election winners and spoke of positivity. As Albanese said, “I think our best days are ahead of us.”
Reina, addressing the public for the first time as a councilwoman, said she was thankful and energized by the faith that voters placed in her, and she will “serve residents and my conservative values.”
Cohen, also speaking for the first time as a councilman, said he’ll be “a partner not a hindrance” to moving the township forward, but told them to expect a lot of questions from him about how to save costs and bring down spending.
Fineman said that when he met Reina last year, “her intelligence and insight was evident.” Upon meeting Cohen last year, he said he was “personable, genuine, and devoted to the community.”
Fineman thanked Crate for exemplifying leadership and teamwork.
