Brick Mayor, Council Welcome 2022 As 'A New Beginning'

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Township Council welcomed its first elected Republican member in eight years on Saturday as the council held its reorganization meeting for 2022.

Perry Albanese, a lifelong Brick Township resident, was the top vote-getter in the race for three seats on the Township Council. He received 13,861 votes, according to the official results, becoming the first Republican elected since 2014.

Marianna Pontoriero and Heather deJong were elected to serve their third terms on the council, with Pontoriero receiving 13,415 votes and deJong receiving 13,403. Republican candidate Mary Buckley was fourth in the race with 13,137 votes. Democrat Derrick T. Ambrosino, who was seeking his first term, received 13,129, and Ernest C. Arians received 13,016.

Albanese fills the seat that had been held by Paul Mummolo, who did not seek re-election to the council. Mummolo was honored at the council meeting Saturday, and was appointed by Mayor John Ducey to serve on the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority.

Ducey was sworn in to his third term as mayor. He received 17,822 votes, according to the official results, while Republican candidate Theresa Gallagher received 10,280.

"This is a new year, and a new beginning for all of us," Ducey said, welcoming Albanese to the council and saying he looked forward to working with him in bipartisan efforts to help the town.

Ducey again highlighted what he said is the town's fiscal responsibility over the eight years he has served, with municipal tax increases of 1 percent or less per year, and efforts to reduce the town's debt, which he said has been cut by $28.5 million over his terms.

He celebrated the sale of the Foodtown site 18 years after the town purchased it to prevent it from being developed into 192 condominiums. Construction work has begun on the sports dome that will host a variety of activities at the site. Retail and a restaurant are part of the plans for the property on Route 70 that backs up to Forge Pond.

In 2022 the town will continue its efforts to identify and protect open space, to eliminate cases of development on the small parcels that remain in the township, Ducey said.

Ducey said his theme for 2022 is community, and celebrated the work of various township departments and the efforts of the town's nonprofit organizations to serve a variety of needs. The aim is to make certain the town is doing what's best for the residents of all ages, all different backgrounds.

"Let's be an example for the state and the whole country," he said.

He closed his speech encouraging Brick Township residents to get involved.

"The challenge to you is what can you do to make Brick a better community?" Ducey said.

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