By DON STINE
John Napolitani, a former Interlaken Borough Council member and current alternate member of the Ocean Township Board of Adjustment, has been appointed to fill the unexpired term of former Ocean Township Deputy Mayor William Garofalo, who stepped down at the end of last year.
He will be sworn in at the council’s Jan. 26 meeting. And as far as replacing Garofalo, Napolitani said he knows he has big shoes to fill.
“Bill is irreplaceable. He has the knowledge and expertise that is far superior to most. I know him personally and he has served our community in various capacities and did an excellent job. I hope to follow in his footsteps and turn to him for guidance when I need it,” he said. “I share his vision. I think I am a good fit for the council and will bring a high level of energy.”
Napolitani, 45, has lived off and on in both Ocean Township and Interlaken for many years. Since 2009 he has lived in Ocean Township. He is a former Interlaken borough councilman and a 1989 graduate of Ocean Township High School.
He has been a teacher at the Middle School in Asbury Park for 18 years. He is also president of the Asbury Park Educational Association, vice president of the Monmouth County Educational Association, was on the Deal Lake Commission for seven years, and has been an alternate member of the Ocean Township Board of Adjustment for more than three years.
“I sought this seat on the council because I want to follow the vision of the current mayor and council. I feel we have a well-run town and I have a background and expertise in government and the private and public sectors. I feel I can be an asset to the council,” he said.
Napolitani said it is an honor that the council selected him to replace Garofalo.
“I understand there were other extremely qualified candidates and I am grateful they picked me,” he said.
He said he would like to see improvements to the Route 35 business corridor, especially at the northeast area of Deal Road and Route 35.
Mayor Christopher Siciliano said that once Napolitani is seated on the council, they will then decide who will be the new deputy mayor.
Napolitani will now have to run to fill out Garofalo’s unexpired term in the 2017 general election. Garofalo’s term expires in June, 2019.
Garofalo, 65, has spent almost 20 years serving his community. He said he was stepping down to spend more time with his wife and family.
