EMERSON—During the borough’s Jan. 3 annual reorganization meeting, 2021 Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli — a former Somerset County assemblyman and county freeholder — had the honor of swearing in Republican Mayor Danielle DiPaola for her second consecutive term.
In turn, DiPaola swore in her running mates, incumbent Republicans Jill McGuire and Nicole Argenzia.
After administering her oath of office, Ciattarelli said that Emerson is “in good hands” and “good stewardship” with DiPaola as mayor.
In introducing Ciattarelli, DiPaola said he would “hopefully be elected governor in 2025” and noted, “If you ever need a lieutenant governor, it is probably the only job I would ever leave Emerson for.”
Councilman Michael Timmerman was elected, 5-0, as council president, replacing McGuire in the role.
DiPaola also announced that councilman Don Pierro had resigned from an unexpired council term ending on Dec. 31, 2023. Council will likely solicit Republican candidates and appoint a replacement soon.
DiPaola said the reorganization was the borough’s 119th annual event, and said she and her running mates comprised the “first all-female mayor and council winning ticket this year.”
She said she was “doubly honored” to be the first mayor reelected to two consecutive terms in the last 35 years.
DiPaola bested Democratic challenger Jeanine Lamatina, 68% to 32%, on Election Day and indeed made a new mark with supporters: she’s the first Family Town mayor elected to two consecutive terms since Harvey Truppi, also a Republican, who served 1986–1994.
She thanked Borough Hall employees and professional staff including police, fire and ambulance employees and volunteers and said that the borough had implemented shared-service agreements with the local board of education for security officers, planned streetscape improvements along Kinderkamack Road, installed a new plaque honoring veterans in Monument Park, contracted for emergency ambulance service with Holy Name Hospital and assisted Emerson’s volunteer ambulance squad to recruit new members, saved $80,000 by replacing three aging boilers, and addressed flooding issues affecting residents.
Other improvements included a shared service for a new sewer jet vacuum to be stored in Emerson, new library solar panels, a walking path at Hillman Field, and paving portions of Park Avenue.
She thanked her mother, 92, whom she said, “is always the smartest and sharpest person in the room.”
Moreover, she thanked her husband, Chris, other family, relatives, and friends. She said she was “truly humbled” by all the support shown to her by residents.
McGuire thanked voters for reelecting her and said her first term was “an enriching experience these last four years” serving with her fellow council colleagues. “I’m proud to know them and proud to serve on the governing body with them.”
Online, she said “There were many people to thank Tuesday night, as I was sworn in for another term as councilwoman: the residents, for having faith in me to represent their best interests; my running mates, Danielle and Nicole, present and past governing body peers, borough staff, professionals and volunteers, for their shared commitment to make Emerson even better; most importantly, my family for supporting my borough efforts and the time it takes me away from them. I am excited to begin a new term!”
Councilwoman Nicole Argenzia thanked residents for reelecting her, adding she “won’t take the position lightly” noting that residents “trust her to be their voice.”
She said she campaigned with “two amazing, intelligent women this past election” who were “not only running mates but also friends.”
Argenzia thanked borough staff, including the administrator and attorney, and her family “for missed days, missed games, missed dinners, and allowing me to do what I do for this town.”
