Maplewood's First LGBTQ Mayor To Be Sworn In On New Year's Day

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A new year means new plans for the popular, artistic North Jersey town of Maplewood. Current Deputy Mayor Dean Dafis will be at the helm after a recent vote among the Township Committee to choose him as mayor for the next year.

Dafis, an attorney and the son of Greek immigrants, will be the first LGBTQ mayor in the town's history.

Dafis will be sworn in at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. Here is a link to join the meeting. More specifics and phone numbers are at the end of the story.

Dafis Speaks Out

In Maplewood's form of government, the voters elect five town committee members, who choose a mayor from among themselves each year.

"I'm very much looking forward to stepping into the leadership role on Jan. 1," Dafis said this week. "I'm ready for it and experienced to lead with strength, knowledge, integrity, and compassion."

He added, "While an appointed 'mayor' in a township committee form of government is an
equal member to the rest of the board, I intend to use my extra 'juice,' if you will, and visibility to increase Maplewood's representation at the county level on prescient issues that directly affect our daily lives ... and to ensure that we receive our fair share of impending critical investment or resources."

Dafis comes to the position in a changing world. Years ago, he was actually subject to conversion therapy. READ MORE: Maplewood Official's Stunning Conversion Therapy Survival Story

"I'm especially proud to be Maplewood's first out LGBTQ-identifying mayor," he noted, "the only one in the county at the moment, and among only a handful of LGBTQ Mayors across the state! It's a triumph for our LGBTQ youth, many of whom are struggling quietly with coming out even right here in our rainbow community — to see themselves in leadership, out and proud."

He added, "Certainly as a teen, I never thought it would get as better as it is today."

Dafis, who grew up in Philadelphia, also referred to his immigrant roots.

"As as a first generation Greek American, my appointment is also a triumph for my parents and all self-made immigrant families in America," he said, "who sacrificed too much for their children's betterment and opportunity. I owe everything to them."

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Here are more details of the Zoom meeting on Jan. 1:

Click the link below to join the webinar: https://twp-maplewood-nj-us.zoom.us/j/88452197257

One tap mobile: US: +19292056099,,88452197257# +13017158592,,88452197257#

Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 929 205 6099 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1
253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 Webinar ID: 884 5219 7257

International numbers available: https://twp-maplewood-nj-us.zoom.us/u/kvCEn0AaF

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