Arace Team Takes Over In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township began a new chapter on Tuesday as Robert Arace and his council running mates took their oaths of office for mayor and council for 2023.

Arace, 29, took the oath for his four-year term as mayor as his wife, Deanna, held the Bible in front of a packed room at Manchester Township's town hall. Roxanne Conniff and Joseph T. Hankins followed with their oaths, promising to serve the residents of Manchester.

Arace defeated Robert Hudak in the run-off election on Dec. 13, the third time the two had faced off. Hudak, who was appointed to serve as mayor after Kenneth Palmer stepped down in July 2021 to become a Superior Court judge, was elected to serve the final year of Palmer's term, fending off a challenge by Arace. The two then were sent to the run-off after no one received 50 percent of the vote in the Nov. 8 election.

"Now the real work begins," Arace said as he thanked the voters. He said he would fight to protect the rural character of Manchester, including slowing development of undersized lots in the Pine Lake Park section of the township, while at the same time working to attract commercial development.

He also promised to try to address rental rates by establishing a rent leveling board, and to get the long-awaited cell tower on Route 530 operating.

"We are so excited to work for our residents," Conniff said, adding improving the economy in Manchester is important. "Our town is desperate for economic development."

Hankins, a retired Manchester police officer, was emotional as he took his oath with his grandchildren holding the Bible. Just a few phrases into the oath, his voice cracked and he teared up, saying, "This is crazy," and paused a couple more times as he soaked in the moment before a crowd that was filled with prominent Republicans, including Ocean County Commissioners Gary Quinn and Bobbi-Jo Crea, Assembly members DiAnne Gove and Brian Rumpf, Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, and Ocean County Republican Party Chairman George Gilmore.

The Arace team made its presence felt immediately, rejecting a motion by Councilman Samuel Fusaro to make Michele Zolezi council president in favor of Conniff, a choice supported by Councilman James Vaccaro. Zolezi and Fusaro abstained on the vote on Conniff, who received yes votes from Vaccaro and Hankins along with her own vote.

Arace also made several changes to department heads, some even in the hours leading up to the council meeting. Zolezi questioned it, asking township clerk Sabina Martin if the list had changed from what was in their council packets prior to Tuesday.

Martin said yes, explaining there had been changes as late as an hour before the meeting; Zolezi abstained from voting on the list.

Hankins, who also has been a volunteer firefighter, asked for a resolution approving the purchase of firefighting equipment be pulled and held until the next council meeting, which is set for Jan. 23.

Vaccaro, who was chosen as vice president with Zolezi abstaining, said with the election in the past it was time for unity.

"We must come together for a common goal," Vaccaro said, and emphasized the need to be "proactive in achieving smart growth."

Zolezi congratulated Arace, Conniff and Hankins on their elections, saying she looked forward to working with them and "to you doing really great things for Manchester."

Fusaro echoed that sentiment, and, citing his 27 years of serving on the council, offered one bit of advice: "Always do what is best for Manchester and you will do the right thing."

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