Bloomfield Mayor Resigns, Begins New Post As NJ Assemblyman

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The transition of power at the head of Bloomfield’s town government has officially begun.

Michael Venezia – the former mayor of Bloomfield – will be sworn in to his new post as a New Jersey assemblyman on Tuesday.

Venezia, a Democratic Party member, emerged victorious for a seat in the 34th Legislative District last November. He will be representing the municipalities of Belleville, Bloomfield, East Orange, Glen Ridge, Nutley and Orange. Read More: Bloomfield Mayor Wins NJ Assembly Seat, AP Says: 'I'm Truly Grateful'

Venezia became the youngest mayor in the history of the township when he was first elected in 2014. He ran unopposed for his current three-year term as mayor in 2022.

As required under state regulations, Venezia resigned from his position as mayor on Monday.

“It has been an immense honor to serve as the mayor of Bloomfield, and I am grateful for the trust and support of the community,” Venezia said.

“The opportunity to continue serving the people of Bloomfield as their representative in the state assembly is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I am excited to bring our shared values to the state level and work towards a better future for all New Jerseyans,” he added.

Here’s how the Township of Bloomfield summarized Venezia’s tenure as mayor in a news release:

“Mayor Venezia spearheaded numerous community initiatives that enhanced the quality of life for residents and contributed to the township's continued growth and prosperity. He fought to keep property taxes stable through smart and strategic development while investing in municipal services, parks, infrastructure and community events, and implemented sustainability initiatives which reduced Bloomfield’s carbon footprint and resulted in substantial savings for residents. Mayor Venezia’s administration also improved public safety by reorganizing the police department and investing in training, technology, and personnel, and his office played an integral role during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic in keeping the community informed and coordinating rapid responses by health care providers.”

Members of Venezia’s family, township staff, and other community members gathered at his final council meeting as mayor on Jan. 4 to wish him luck in his new endeavors (watch the video below).

“It has been a pleasure to serve with Mayor Venezia for the past decade and am sure he will represent Bloomfield extremely well in Trenton,” Councilman Nick Joanow said.

• See Related: 3 Bloomfield Council Members Sworn In For New Terms (WATCH)

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Since Venezia is a Democrat, the elected members of the Bloomfield Democratic Committee will meet and submit three nominations to the town council to fill out the remainder of his current term, which was set to expire on Dec. 31, 2025.

Bloomfield council members will consider the nominations at their next scheduled meeting on Jan. 22.

The next mayoral and council at-large election will be held in June (primary) and November (general) of 2025.

• See Related: Bloomfield Democrats Seek Replacement For Mayor Venezia

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Bloomfield Facebook page.