Curreri appointed to Vernon Council

VERNON — The Vernon Township Council on Monday appointed Patrick Curreri to fill the vacancy created by the death of Councilman Dan Kadish on Feb. 25.
The measure passed by a 3-0 majority with only one abstention: Councilwoman Sandra Ooms.
Council President Jean Murphy, Council Vice President John Auberger and Councilman Mark Van Tassel all voted for Curreri.
“I don’t think he has any prejudgments for anything and I think he has a great fresh set of eyes,” Murphy said. “I know he’s someone that Dan Kadish was mentoring to replace him.”
Curreri said Kadish was someone he could always call for advice when he was running for Freeholder in 2018, the first time he ran for elected office. He ran on the Democratic ticket and finished fourth out of five candidates.
"He showed me the best way to treat people and the best way to show up for people," Curreri said.
When he learned the council had 30 days to fill Kadish's seat on the council, he spoke to Kadish's wife, Carol, and she gave him her support to seek her late husband's seat.
"It really solidified that this is what I need to do for my neighbors in Vernon right now," Curreri said.
Curreri will serve the remainder of Kadish’s term, which will end on Dec. 31, 2019. The seat will be up for election in November.
While Murphy said Kadish wasn’t going to seek re-election this year, Curreri said he hasn't decided whether to run in November yet.
"I am really just focused on learning the job and doing the best I can right now," he said.
In Vernon Township, Curreri has been a member of the Environmental Commission and the Greenway committee.
Murphy said he was appointed to the council during Monday afternoon’s budget workshop so he could prepare for that night’s regular council meeting. He couldn’t see any council material until he was appointed.
“He’s been out there and been dealing with the issues,” Murphy said. “He’s someone that’s not connected to anybody on the council. He’s someone who’s been out there and he put himself forward to serve the town.”