Giannell appointed to Red Bank council
Former GOP chair fills seat left open by resignation
BY SHARON LEFF Staff Writer

Republican James Giannell was appointed to the Red Bank Borough Council on Monday to fill the seat left open by Republican Councilman John Curley's resignation.

Curley resigned July 14 because of a residential move to Middletown Township and to spend more time on his campaign for county freeholder.

Giannell, Pearl Street, is a real estate agent, the former chairman of the Red Bank Republican Committee and serves on the county Planning Board.

"I think John Curley has a business viewpoint on some of these issues, and I thought it was smart to replace him with somebody who was also in the business field and also has been a lifelong resident of Red Bank," Mayor Pasquale Menna said after Monday's meeting.

Other candidates on the short list included John Tyler, Leighton Avenue, and Stephen Fitzpatrick, Chestnut Street. The council was required to take formal action within 30 days of Curley's resignation.

The mayor made the nomination, and it was unanimously approved by the council. Giannell will serve until Dec. 31, when Curley's term would have expired.

The six-member Borough Council remains made up of four Democrats and two Republicans.

Menna said all three candidates were qualified for the position but Giannell has more time in his own party.

"This is essentially a political appointment by the party," he said.

Menna had voiced interest in conducting interviews with the three candidates prior to the appointment, but that did not occur.

"The message I got back from the municipal chairman indicated that everyone knows [the candidates'] views," he said.

Councilwoman Mary Grace Cangemi, the only Republican on the council since Curley's resignation, said she was not consulted about the decision but felt all three choices were excellent options.

"John Tyler is running for office, and of course we'd like to have him on board before he's elected next year, but I think it was a political decision not to give him … the advantage of incumbency, and fortunately the other options were strong options," Cangemi said.

She said that because the party is running John Tyler as a candidate for Borough Council in the November election, "We would like to have seen him take the position, but we certainly understand why he wasn't chosen."

Giannell said he was not expecting to receive the nomination from the mayor.

"I did think they were going to go with John Tyler. I fully expect him to be our next councilman," Giannell said in an interview Tuesday.

He said it would be difficult to have numerous initiatives, since his term will only last until Dec. 31, but he will look out for the interests of the residents of Red Bank.

"I also want to protect the taxpayers. I'm not a fan of a big government. I believe government should leave people alone," he said.

Giannell added that he anticipates philosophical differences between himself and some of the council members.

Cangemi said she has known Giannell since she came to Red Bank and she agrees with his positions on policy

"I think he's a good government guy. He's really a fiscally responsible guy, a fiscal conservative, which I think we desperately need," Cangemi said.

She said she had not spoken to him since his appointment.

Menna said Giannell can be sworn in at any time, and if he wants a ceremonial swearing in, he'd be happy to accommodate him.

Giannell's first council meeting will be Aug. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at 90 Monmouth St.