By 'Grace' of council, Cangemi appointed

Cangemi

Former GOP candidate will be sworn into office

BY LAYLI WHYTE

Staff Writer

Less than five months after losing the election for a Red Bank Borough Council seat by a little more than 20 votes, Mary-Grace Cangemi has been appointed to fill a vacant seat left by Kaye Ernst last month.

A special meeting was held last Thursday, although Cangemi was not able to attend since she was out of town.

Mayor Pasquale Menna said that the newly appointed councilwoman will be sworn into office by the March 26 regular council meeting.

"After due consideration," Menna said at the special meeting, "I believe Ms. Cangemi has shown a commitment to serving on the council. I believe the people who voted for her deserve representation on the council."

Cangemi, a Republican who has lived in the borough for 18 years, lost the 2006 council election to Democratic Councilman Michael DuPont by a margin of 25 votes.

Menna said that the reason Cangemi was named when she was unavailable to attend was because the borough had to name a replacement for Ernst within 30 days of her resignation, which became official on Feb. 12.

The Red Bank Republican Committee submitted three names of candidates for the seat, which included Cangemi, Steve Fitzpatrick and Anthony Tamburri.

Menna said that he made the recommendation for Cangemi's appointment based on the close election in November and Cangemi's strong campaign.

"She already ran," he said, "and she expressed a vision during her race. She came very close."

Cangemi's vision for the borough included an expanded and enhanced commercial corridor for the west side, including Shrewsbury Avenue.

Cangemi was also vocal about issues facing the borough such as over-development, overcrowding of rental housing and transparency in government.

Fellow Republican Councilman John P. Curley said Cangemi was the party's first choice to fill the seat.

"Grace is a very articulate individual," he said, "and is very dedicated to this community. She is a westsider, and she will be a true representative of all of the people."