By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD – After two decades of service on Freehold Borough’s governing body, a member of the Borough Council has been inducted into the New Jersey League of Municipalities Elected Officials Hall of Fame.
Councilman Michael DiBenedetto, who joined the council in 1997, is a 2017 inductee into the league’s Hall of Fame. DiBenedetto was recognized for his achievement at a council meeting on March 6.
In order to be eligible to enter the league’s Hall of Fame, an elected official must have served a municipality for at least 20 years.
DiBenedetto, who owns and operates Joe’s Barber Shop, South Street, was presented with a certificate noting his achievement by Councilwoman Sharon Shutzer and former mayor Michael Wilson.
Shutzer and Wilson are members of the league’s Hall of Fame.
“It is with great pride that we give you this certificate,” Shutzer told DiBenedetto.
“20 years is a long time,” said Wilson, who served as mayor from 1985 to 2012. “Having the barbershop means (DiBenedetto) always knows what is happening in town.”
DiBenedetto was also praised by state Assemblywoman Joann Downey (D-Monmouth).
“We are proud to have you as one of our council members,” Downey said.
DiBenedetto called his induction into the Hall of Fame an honor and spoke about his history with the Borough Council.
“Mayor Wilson got me going when he asked me to run for council,” DiBenedetto said. “And I decided it was time to not be a complainer. It was time to stop the noise, not make noise. It was time to give, not to take.”
DiBenedetto thanked his family members, the mayors he has served (Mayor Nolan Higgins and Wilson), and his running mates, council President George Schnurr and former councilman Robert Crawford.
DiBenedetto also thanked the borough’s volunteers and professionals and the citizens of Freehold.
“It is a privilege to be your servant,” he said.