Del Vecchio president of League of Municipalities

Among his top priorities are property tax relief and reform.

By: Linda Seida
   Mayor David Del Vecchio became president of the New Jersey League of Municipalities on Friday during the league’s 91st annual conference in Atlantic City.
   Members of the league elected Mayor Del Vecchio third vice president in 2003. He became second vice president the following year and first vice president in 2005.
   Among his top priorities are property tax relief and reform for residents and the league’s move to a new headquarters in Trenton. The headquarters still will be on West State Street, but closer to the state complex into a historic Roebling mansion that’s undergoing renovation and expansion.
   "My first responsibility is still the city, outside of my family and my job," Mayor Del Vecchio said. "I’ll have to play it by ear. I expect there’s a big difference between being vice president and president in terms of requests for events and things of that nature."
   He’s positive about the change.
   "I’m looking forward to it," he said. "It’s worthwhile."
   Concerning property taxes, Mayor Del Vecchio pointed to the 98 recommendations made to the governor last week by special legislative committees.
   He said, "The governor has made tax relief and reform a priority. It’s being discussed. There’s a lot out there. I just think that part of it is, we’ve got to come up with a different way to pay for schools."
   The 300-year-old system "makes no sense," he said. "It’s difficult for families and older residents. We need both relief and reform."
   Mayor Del Vecchio said he was grateful to his wife, Karen Kominsky, and sons, Alex, 9, and Matthew, 2, for their support as well as the people of Lambertville, who recently elected him to a sixth consecutive term in office.
   "Number one, this couldn’t be possible without the support of Karen and my family," he said. "Karen is such a big part of everything. And obviously the support of the people of the city who have made this possible. Hopefully, we’ll be successful and not only help our municipality but other residents, too."
   Mayor Del Vecchio said he relies on his wife for her sage advice. A planner by trade and now a lobbyist, Ms. Kominsky served as deputy commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection in 2001 and 2002. She later became deputy chief of staff for governors James McGreevey and Richard Codey.
   He has been mayor of Lambertville since 1992. He also is chairman of the Hunterdon County Democratic Committee and Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission.
   With the league, he is vice chairman of the Finance and Taxation Committee, co-chairman of the Heavy Truck Traffic Task Force and co-chairman of the Health and Pension Benefits Committee.
   Mayor Del Vecchio is employed by Jingoli and Son as a construction executive. He previously was a senior executive for economic development in the office of the New Jersey treasurer.
   Also during the league’s conference last week, Hope Township Mayor Timothy C. McDonough was elected third vice president. East Orange City Mayor Robert L. Bowser became second vice president. Denville Township Mayor Gene Feyl became first vice president.