New Galloway Township Councilman John Mooney didn't waste any time.
He was sworn in as the seventh member of Galloway Council Thursday afternoon, Aug. 2, one day after he was named by the Republican Committee to assume the seat vacated by Dennis Kleiner on June 25.
According to Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola, Township Clerk Thalia C. Kay swore Mooney in upon his request Thursday afternoon. Coppola was in attendance, as were Mooney's wife and son. The swearing-in took place in Township Manager Arch Liston's office.
"He called and said he wanted to do it this afternoon," Coppola said.
From here, Township Solicitor Mike Fitzgerald will sit down with Mooney and bring him up to speed on council's activities, as well as any pending litigation, Coppola said.
"I don't think he'll need too much acclimation," Coppola said. "He's been paying attention anyway."
Coppola said he expects Mooney will bring a unique perspective to the position.
"He has a different set of life experiences," Coppola said. "We're seven individuals charged with representing the people. We have to make the decisions that the people would make. ... I think he'll treat Galloway like it's his hime."
Mooney's quick swearing-in process is a microcosm of what he'll need to do in the first few months of his tenure. He was appointed to fill the seat through the end of the year, and will be running against Democrat Jim McElwee in a special election in November.
“I would like to congratulate Mr. Mooney on his appointment to Council,” McElwee said via email Thursday morning. “I will be interested to see how John interacts with the other members to achieve some positive results for Galloway Township because that is what we need. I will campaign to show my passion and spirit for our community and to let people know what my plans and visions are moving Galloway forward.”
“I don’t need to get acclimated to Galloway because I’ve been a resident of the township for years,” Mooney said on Wednesday night. “I spent 35 years as a policeman in Atlantic City and I’m well grounded with respect to the common problems Galloway and Atlantic City share.”
Mooney is in a unique situation. Not only will he have to run for the seat this year, but whoever wins will have to run for re-election next year, as the seat expires at the end of 2013.
Coppola went through a similar process when he first became a councilman. In 2010, Coppola filled a seat left vacant by Bill Ackerman from March through the end of that year. In November, he won a special election to hold onto the seat for another year, until the term expired in 2011. He was the top vote getter among the six candidates in 2011’s general election.
"Some people we approached were reluctant to take the seat because of that," Coppola said. "Some of them showed some reservations."
Both candidates in this year’s election have run for council in the past. Mooney finished fourth in the 1999 race for three open seats, while McElwee finished fifth in the 2011 race.
Harry Scheeler
6:59 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
When Mooney was promoted to Police Chief from Deputy Chief in 2006, he was permitted to collect more than $218,000 for 390 days of unused sick leave. "If you are fortunate enough to go your entire career without getting sick, the first thing you should do is hit your knees and thank God for having good health. But after that your next move should not be to put your hand out to the taxpayer on the way out the door and demand six-figure payouts from the people who have been paying you over the course of your entire career and will continue to pay for your pension and health benefits for the rest of your life. I mean, there has to be a limit somewhere to this. So, my position is pretty clear – sick days are for when you’re sick. And taxpayers and mayors working on tight budgets should not have to pay the cost for accumulated sick time." -Gov.Governor Chris Christie How can we trust this man has the best intentions for Galloway's budget problems when he had no problems cashing in on the Atlantic City taxpayer? On top of his lucrative tax payer funded pension he's now going to collect more money off the backs of Galloway. How can government workers who have a higher standard of living then the average taxpayer (at the expense of the taxpayer) understand the concerns of the people they serve.
Shawn G
11:52 am on Friday, August 3, 2012
I Have to disagree with you on this Harry. Most of the time you are on point. I think first you must always give someone a chance. If he screws up than we can go after him. I agree his buyout was extreme but that would never happen here because our officers and employees get no benefits after retirement and the sick time buyout is even less than what the gov wants to make law. At least thats what the Current reported on about a year ago. Once they are negotiated It would be very difficult to change the contract.
Harry Scheeler
3:19 pm on Friday, August 3, 2012
Shawn, regardless of what I think about him cashing in he was set up for failure. First of all I believe his affiliation with the GTRL with hurt him. I was told a long time ago someone anonymously mailed the members of the GTRL about TerryLucarelli.com 's criminal past. From what I am told she told everyone it wasn't true. She reportedly said she still had her teacher pension and if it were true they would have taken it. When I exposed her online with the website people started to distance themselves. I hear less then 10 people are active in the GTRL now. I am also told when Terry remained in power everyone distanced themselves because even know they will not say it publicly due to fear, they don't feel someone with her past should be their leader. So we have the Terry factor and then we have the Mcelwee factor. Everyone likes and respects the guy Democrats and Republicans. Even the Republican Mayor appointed him to the Zoning board which I hear infuriated the "machine". So Mcelwee is going to get votes on both sides of the isle, the swing voters who are not happy with the Republics on council not to mention its a Presidential Election year. Mooney doesn't stand a chance. But you know what that's okay, because I know the Mayor, Dr. Tyrell, Coppola and most likely Ullman will work with Mcelwee and Gorman. That leaves Terry with only Pennsylvania resident Bassford.