Brick Mayor Ducey's Judicial Nomination Advances

BRICK, NJ — Mayor John G. Ducey's nomination to serve as a Superior Court judge received the support of the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, putting him one step closer to becoming a judge.

Ducey went before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which unanimously released his nomination to the full Senate for a vote. The next Senate session is set for 2 p.m. on Monday.

If Ducey is confirmed on Monday, his appointment would be to succeed Superior Court Judge Michael T. Collins in Ocean County, and would be for a seven-year term. Collins reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 in December, the New Jersey Globe reported.

The potential confirmation on Monday also will set the political process in motion, as Ducey will have to resign as mayor immediately. Members of the Brick Township Democratic Committee will have 15 days to come up with three candidates for the Township Council to choose from for appointment to serve as mayor through the end of 2023.

Ducey was praised during the Judiciary Committee hearing, with Sen. Vin Gopal saying he is well-liked and respected by people from both the Democratic and Republican parties.

"He's just such a good and decent person," Gopal said.

"His reputation not only as a mayor but as an individual is of the highest integrity," said Sen. Bob Smith, a Democrat from Middlesex County.

"This is a good day for the Republicans, too, you might actually win Brick now," Gopal said, prompting laughter in the room.

While Gopal, a Democrat, was joking, Ducey's impending appointment to the bench does appear to make it more likely that a Republican will be elected as mayor for the first time in 10 years.

Ducey, who was first elected as mayor in 2013, has had widespread community support, and won re-election to his third term in 2021 with more than 63 percent of the vote.

His council running mates in 2021 did not fare as well. Marianna Pontoriero and Heather deJong won re-election by fewer than 300 votes and trailed Perry Albanese, the top vote-getter by 500 votes.

The November 2023 election campaign will likely kick off unofficially shortly.

Republican Assemblyman John Catalano announced he is not seeking re-election to the Assembly for the 10th District, but instead will run for the mayor's seat.

Catalano, who lives in Brick with his wife, Beth Ann and daughter Jenna, owns several businesses including Country Store Jewelers and JBJ Elisabeth, LLC. He served as councilman in Brick in 2014 and was the president of the Brick Township Republican Club from 2013-2019. He also has served on the Brick Township Planning Board, the Brick Township Small Business Committee and the Brick Township Historic Preservation Committee.

He was a commissioner on the Brick Township Housing Authority and served as vice chair for the Brick MUA.

Note: This article has been updated with direct quotes from the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, to clarify that Sen. Vin Gopal was joking in his comment about Republicans having an opportunity to win the mayor's seat in Brick.

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