Mayor McCormac begins first full term
Dalina is tapped as council president, Luban as vice president
BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer
Starting his first full four-year term as mayor on New Year's Day, Mayor John E. McCormac couldn't help but say thank you to his family, administration, the Woodbridge Township Council, emergency services, the Board of Education, and the volunteers of the township.

"I will address the township's issues at the State of the Township address on Jan. 22, but now I would like to say thank you," said McCormac, who addressed each member of his administration and Township Council at the reorganization meeting on Jan. 1 at the Woodbridge Middle School.

McCormac touched on the 4,855 summonses issued for illegal property maintenance, the free special garbage program, and the promised public animal shelter that were accomplished over the 13-plus months he has been in office.

In November 2006, McCormac won the special election to complete the unexpired term of the late Mayor Frank G. Pelzman. That term ended Dec. 31, 2007.

More than 100 people filled the middle school auditorium, including Freeholder Director David B. Crabiel, Freeholder Stephen P. Dalina, Freeholder Christopher Rafano, Freeholder Blanquita B. Valenti, state Sen. Joseph F. Vitale (D-19), Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas, Board of Education members, and a number of former councilmen, employees and volunteers for the township.

The reorganization featured Paul DeLeo with bagpipes, the Woodbridge High School Choirs and 2007 Woodbridge Idol finalists.

During the reorganization, the Township Council nominated Ward 2 Councilman Richard Dalina as council president and Ward 5 Councilman Robert Luban as vice president.

"We have been and continue to be a township on the move," said Dalina, who added that the successes of the township throughout the year could not be possible without the support of the people.

Luban, who has been the longest-serving councilman on the council, 23 years, said he is looking forward to continuing to work with the mayor, whom he described as a young man with a lot of enthusiasm and energy.

"I can call the mayor young because I'm a few years older than he is," said Luban, who received a laugh from the audience.

McCormac, who received a standing ovation after he was sworn in, began his mayor's address by thanking his biggest critic, his mother.

McCormac's parents still live in the same home in the Menlo Park Terrace section of the township where he grew up.

"I asked my mom what she thought of my short speech [after accepting the nomination for mayor in August 2006] … the first thing she told me was that my tie was crooked," recalled McCormac. "She said I could see your buttons, what is wrong with you?"

McCormac also recalled a moment when he was state treasurer.

"I was on television for six hours and answering questions from the press, and my mother watched all six hours," he said. "I asked, 'So, Mom, what did you think?' … she said, 'You're too fat, your neck was wiggling, and you need to lose 30 pounds.' "

McCormac's remark brought laughter to the audience.

The mayor announced that he would keep the administration that he has worked with since he became mayor in November 2006.

"I said I would keep the administration when I became mayor, because I thought it was not fair to let them go because of the unfortunate events [the death of Mayor Pelzman on June 29, 2006]," said McCormac. "I'm proud to say that they can rip up their résumés, because they are staying four more years."

McCormac has appointed just three new people since he became mayor: John Hagerty as the township's communications director, Richard P. Cahill as chief financial officer, who replaced Margaret Gorman, who left the CFO position for personal reasons in May, and Caroline Ehrlich as the township's chief of staff and executive director of the redevelopment agency.

Ehrlich, who replaces Donna Jago as chief of staff, resigned from the Township Council in January 2007 after serving the township for almost 11 years. Jago left the position before McCormac became mayor.

"[Carol] has helped me frequently with issues other than redevelopment issues," said McCormac. "I thought it would be fitting to put the title behind her name … she will receive no increased compensations [as chief of staff]."

One of the musical numbers that the Woodbridge High School Choirs and 2007 Woodbridge Idol finalists chose to conclude the reorganization meeting was Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days," with a little twist of the words.

"Well there's a boy who wanted to be a mayor back in high school … Johnny Mac is everywhere in town early in the morning and late in the evening … hitting all the hot spots."

McCormac will hold his State of the Township address Jan. 22, at noon at the Forge Inn on Route 9 and at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1 Main St.