SAYREVILLE – A longtime member of the Sayreville Borough Council will return to lead the council for 2019, while two new public officials will join the governing body.
Daniel Buchanan was elected council president during the governing body’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 5.
Buchanan was a member of the council from 2005-07 and rejoined in 2011, making 2019 his 12th year of service on the council. He has the longest current term of all council members and is the second longest-serving overall behind Councilwoman Mary Novak, who first served from 1995 to 2000 and rejoined in 2012 for 14 years of service.
Also during the meeting, newcomers Kevin Dalina and Damon Enriquez, the winning candidates in the 2018 municipal election, were sworn in to begin serving three-year terms. The oath of office was administered by state Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.
Democrats hold all six council seats and Republicans hold the mayor’s office in the borough.
Dalina, who is the son of former Woodbridge Township Councilman Rick Dalina, the nephew of Monroe Township Councilman Stephen Dalina and the grandson of former Middlesex County Freeholder and Woodbridge Councilman Pete Dalina, thanked his family members present at the meeting, Enriquez, the members of the Borough Council and the Sayreville Democratic Organization for their support.
“I’d also like to thank the voters of Sayreville for putting your faith in Damon and I,” he said. “I promise we will work as hard as we can to ensure we keep Sayreville progressing. I look forward to working with council members and the mayor to keep pushing Sayreville to new heights.”
In his comments, Enriquez thanked his his family, Dalina and the officials present at the meeting.
“Nearly 19 years ago, I moved to Sayreville,” Enriquez said. “I was 24, newly married and ready to start my life. My wife and I moved into our home and met our neighbors, who over the years became our family. It was their stories of how they were born and raised here and how they decided to bring up their family in our town that assured me that I made the right decision to build my life here. I have always loved Sayreville and how it’s a close-knit town. Here we are today and that still remains true. Sayreville is still that special place.
“As my wife and I raise our three children, the amazing school system, the dedicated and hard-working teachers and staff, the first aid squad, firefighters and police officers who protect us, the sports programs, local teams, various community groups, clubs and organizations, make me proud to serve this town,” he said. “I am beyond humbled and honored to be part of a team that represents this great town.”
Buchanan was nominated by Novak to serve as council president for the year and was elected in an unanimous vote. He last served as council president in 2017.
“I would like to thank all the dignitaries who have come today to Sayreville’s reorganization meeting,” Buchanan said. “I want to congratulate Councilman Dalina and Councilman Enriquez and thank your families. Being on the council takes a lot of time away from your family and we’re here to make our town better for our families and our neighbors.
“We did a lot in 2018,” he continued. “We worked together, bipartisanly, to come up with some ideas for COAH [Council on Affordable Housing] and other matters and in 2019, we look to do the same. It may be a 6-0 [Democratic] council up here, but we’re going to need all seven voices to get things accomplished.”