Cohen Selected New Mayor, Holland Chosen Deputy Mayor

At last night's Manalapan Township Reorganization Meeting the newly elected Township Committee member, Susan Cohen, was inaugurated as the mayor of for 2012. Don Holland, who shared the Republican ticket with Cohen in the recent election, was inaugurated as Deputy Mayor for the upcoming year, as well.

Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry, Freeholder and Assemblyman-elect Robert Clifton, Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, Assemblyman and Senator-elect Samuel Thompson, and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden all attended the reorganization.

Freeholder Lillian Burry let the "cat out of the bag" regarding Cohen's position as mayor prior to swearing her in as a Township Committee member. "Susan pledged to the people of Manalapan that she would do what is best for Manalapan and they have spoken - they have elected her as their next Committeeperson and we'll soon say Mayor," Burry said. "Am I supposed to keep that a secret?"

Burry swore Cohen in as both the Committee member and Mayor. Committeeman Ryan Green nominated Cohen for the mayoral position and Committeeman Jordan Maskowitz seconded; the committee unanimously voted her in as mayor for 2012.

Green prefaced his nomination with an explanation as to why he cannot take the position of mayor due to his candidacy for Monmouth County Freeholder. . If elected to the Freeholder position, Green will have to step down from the Township Committeee, and he feels that it is not right to begin the year as mayor and then step down. 

"Lest anyone think that I am counting my chickens - I am certainly not," Green said. "The mere fact that I might not be able to finish a term precludes me from even pursuing it."

Assemblyman-elect Ron Dancer swore Holland in as Committeemember and Freeholder Director and Assemblyman-elect Robert Clifton swore Holland in as Deputy Mayor. The nomination for Deputy Mayor came from Cohen, Maskowitz seconded, and the committee unanimously voted him in.

Former Mayor Andrew Lucas congratulated both Cohen and Holland. "I have had the honor of serving with now Mayor Cohen and Deputy Mayor Holland for ten years in different capacities through their volunteer work, different commissions, and I really haven't come across two people that are more dedicated to making Manalapan a better place."

Manalapan Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin and Manalapan Township Engineer Greg Valesi were reappointed to their positions on the dais, and Manalapan Planner Richard Cramer was also reappointed.

Liaisions to departments and committees, committeemembers, professionals and experts were all appointed for the upcoming year. A list of all those appointed will be coming shortly.