Youngest Elected Official In NJ Begins Term In Millburn

MILLBURN, NJ – Jamie Serruto is the youngest elected official in New Jersey, and may well be the youngest in the county, since he turned 18 two weeks before the November school board race in Millburn. If there had been a primary in June, he would have been too young to run in the race.

On Thursday, Jan. 2, he was sworn in to the nine-member Millburn Board of Education to begin a one-year term.

“When I was sworn in last night I felt part of the team,” he said on Friday. “I wasn’t looked at differently; I wasn’t spoken to differently. I feel very empowered.”

Serruto was sworn in along with newcomer Jonathan Green and two sitting members who began new terms: Sonali Ganti and Cori Haase.

Serruto believes that, as a student who attended the district since kindergarten, he brings a special expertise to the board. “I’m not going about my term as a student liaison or a student voice,” he said. “I’m going on it as a full board member who happens to know what’s going on in the district.”

Serruto, who is the Millburn High School senior class president and an Eagle Scout, said that he has a few priorities during his term. He hopes people will vote for the district's proposed capital plan in a referendum on Jan. 28. Residents will vote to bond for $20.5 million. The district hopes to use the money to upgrade facilities at all the schools.

As Millburn is one of the highest ranked school districts in the state, he also wants to keep the district evolving with changing times.

He has gotten some attention as a young official. On Dec. 16, he appeared on the FOX TV morning show “Fox and Friends.” He talked about supporting the bond referendum and about looking at the best start times for the school day so that teachers and students are well-rested.

While the Fox hosts said they were celebrating “young conservatives who are now growing up to serve their communities,” Serruto said he doesn’t identify as a conservative.

“I’m fiscally conservative, socially liberal," Serruto said. "I consider myself a moderate."

He said, “I take a stance for the betterment of the community. I think we’re stronger when we’re working together. We need to be positive, look at issues from all sides, and we can’t come into any issues without investigating.”

Serruto plans to enter Fordham University in fall. He wants to see how busy he is with college before deciding whether to run again.

What will he major in? Political science or public administration, of course.

The board will meet again tonight (Monday night, Jan. 6) at 7:45 p.m. at the Education Center at 434 Millburn Ave.

What else is happening in Millburn? Send news tips and coverage suggestions to caren.lissner@patch.com. Sign up for free news alerts and the newsletter here.