BY PAUL HUMMEL
CORRESPONDENT
HILLSDALE, N.J.–John Ruocco is the new mayor of Hillsdale.
Ahead of a Nov. 7 election, Ruocco, who had been the council president and is the Republican candidate for mayor of Hillsdale, was appointed unanimously by the council.
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Democrat Michael Sheinfield is also a candidate for mayor, and borough voters will pick between the two men on Election Day to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Doug Frank, which extends through 2019. Frank recently resigned, citing health reasons.
Ruocco was sworn in by state Assemblyman Robert Auth and was joined in the ceremony by his wife, Angela. Ruocco has been on the council since January 2015.
“I’m honored,” he said of being named mayor. “It’s not something when I retired from the Federal Reserve [Bank of New York] I thought I would ever do. I looked forward to being just a councilman.”
“I really enjoyed working with Mayor Frank, and when he announced his early departure, I had a decision to make. Hopefully, everything will be to my liking and the town’s.”
Ruocco, who was also the council’s finance chairman, had a lengthy career with the Federal Reserve as an assistant vice president. A new council member to replace Ruocco is expected to be sworn in on Sept. 12.
Hillsdale voters also select two council members to serve three-year terms on this Election Day. Incumbent Republican Anthony DeRosa and resident Zoltan Horvath will campaign with Ruocco, while Democrats Louisa Toledo and Adam Tate will campaign with Sheinfield for the jobs.