Council picks new member

JAMESBURG — Democrats Marlene Lowande and Joe Jennings officially became part of the Borough Council at the council’s reorganization meeting.

By:Nick D’Amore
   
   JAMESBURG — Democrats Marlene Lowande and Joe Jennings officially became part of the Borough Council at the council’s reorganization meeting.
   The two were sworn in Wednesday.
   Ms. Lowande had been appointed to a council seat in October. The seat was vacated by Mayor Tony LaMantia, who was selected by the council to serve as mayor. He replaced Joseph Dipierro, who retired in September,
   However, Mayor LaMantia’s council seat was up for re-election, and his name remained on the ballot in November, when he was elected to serve as a council member.
   Mayor LaMantia, a Democrat, has opted to resign his council seat and continue as mayor, a post he will hold for the next year. The council then chose Ms. Lowande to fill Mayor LaMantia’s newly vacated council seat.
   Ms. Lowande will run for election in November before the general public voters to serve out the remaining two years of the three-year term. If she wins, she would be sworn in shortly after, rather than having to wait until the new year.
   There were two council seats up for grabs in November. Democrat Joe Jennings also won a three-year seat on the council in November. He replaces Dorothy Tatum, who did not seek re-election.
   Mayor LaMantia received the most votes, with 963, followed by Mr. Jennings with 925. Their Republican challengers, Chad Hetzell and Darren Larsen received 530 and 557 votes, respectively.
   “I want to thank the residents for electing me,” said Mayor LaMantia. “I looking forward to working with you and the council.”
   The council, by law, had to propose three candidates who could fill the seat — all Democrats, because the seat was vacated by a Democrat. The Democratic Party also proposed Eugene Tonkery and Neil Greenspan, but had made it clear before the vote that Ms. Lowande was the favorite.
   Ms. Lowande said she was looking forward to working with the new council and “getting into supporting recreation and education in the town.”
   Ms. Lowande will head the recreation and education committee, and Mr. Jennings is chair of the public works committee.
   Ms. Lowande has been living in Jamesburg for 14 years and is a member of the Jamesburg Civic Association. She works at Bryant Staffing and has two children, Tristan, 10, and Travis, 6.