Chris Siciliano
By WILLIAM CLARK
Chris Siciliano is expected to step down from his role as mayor of Ocean Township this week.
On Monday the Senate approved him as the new Monmouth County Superintendent of Elections. He is expected to assume his new position Oct. 24.
Once Siciliano steps down, it is expected that Deputy Mayor John Napolitani will be chosen to fill the role of mayor on a temporary basis.
The township has advertised the vacant council position and will have 30 days to find a replacement once Siciliano officially resigns.
Siciliano, who declined to speculate on possible candidates, said that the decision to fill the position will be entirely up to the remaining members on the council.
Siciliano was originally elected in 2003 and was selected as mayor in 2015. Now after 20 years of public service, Siciliano leaves a council that consists of members that he selected for his ticket.
When thinking back on the initiatives he is most proud of, Siciliano pointed to the various community events that now have become tradition including Christmas tree and Menorah lightings.
“I hope [the council members] keep them going,” he said.
Raised in Ocean Township, Siciliano said that he enjoys events similar to ones last weekend where the township honored former NFL player Phil Villapiano and community member David Dahrouge.
Those events “introduce people who just moved here to our history,” he said.
There are five members on the Ocean Township Council and each serves for four years. The mayor is elected from among the members. The council reorganizes on July 1.
