Ex-NJ Governor Swears In Belleville Mayor, 2 Council Members

BELLEVILLE, NJ — After earning an election day victory in Belleville’s nonpartisan municipal election earlier this year, Mayor Michael Melham and council members Naomy DePeña and Thomas Graziano have officially been sworn in for new terms.

“I do not see the need to change course, for finally Belleville is no longer the butt of jokes, but rather we are the topic of conversation,” Melham said during a swearing-in ceremony earlier this month. Read More: Belleville Mayor's Slate Claims Election Victory, Team Rovell Concedes

DePeña and Graziano – Melham’s running mates in May’s nonpartisan municipal election – were also sworn in for another four-year term.

Graziano, who was also unanimously selected as the town’s deputy mayor, was sworn in by his uncle, Frank LaMura, a retired Lt. Colonel with the U.S. Marine Corps.

De Peña, who just wrapped up her term as the first Latina to serve as deputy mayor, took her oath in Spanish, as it was administered by her father, the Rev. Luis Fernandez.

“This is meaningful to me because it’s my heritage,” she said. “It’s a beautiful language, but what unites us is that regardless of the language in which it was expressed, my commitment is to everyone – to serve with the same love.”

• See related article: De Peña Marks Another 'First' For Belleville's Latina Community

Sen. Richard Codey, the former governor of New Jersey, administered the oath of office during the township’s reorganization meeting on July 1.

Melham said it was an “absolute honor” to have Codey take part in the ceremony.

“Now is the time to stop the politics of division and abide by the will of the people, the very constituency that overwhelmingly decided to put the Melham team back in office for a second term,” he said.

Codey, a Democratic Party member, used some of his signature humor to make a point about reaching across political ideologies to find common ground with Melham, an independent.

“We’re all in this together, whether it’s Trenton or Belleville,” Codey said. “And I know, mayor, you’re not of my party. I don’t care. Why should anybody care? This is about Belleville, not about some party. We’ll get to the party later because he won.”

• See related article: When New Jersey Dems, GOP Agree (Going Beyond Blue And Red)

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