Senator Corzine Administers Oath Of Office To Mayor Jason Varano Following Landslide Democratic Berkeley Victory

Nat Abbe, Bill Villane And Anne Wolff Also Installed To New Four Year Terms On Berkeley Township Council

Bayville: Mayor Jason Varano,  just 31 years old, had the final satisfaction and the last word on Saturday, as he took the oath of office for a second full four year term as Mayor of Berkeley Township and graciously offered the credit for his success to everybody but himself.

He never mentioned that he was ridiculed by a greed-driven Democratic County Chairman who fears the Berkeley Democrat formula of productive, responsive and cost effective local government.

Republican Candidates Never Checked The Record

He never recalled he was lied about by Republican candidates whose campaign aides didn’t bother to check the record when they falsely accused him of double dipping on expensive health insurance coverage and jacking up his salary as mayor.

Went To Bat For Seniors

He overlooked the fact that he was mocked for going to bat for the senior citizens who represent the majority of Berkeley voters.

And, as a state government employee, he never mentioned that he was subjected to a tidal wave of guilt-by-association misrepresentations about his “connections” with Governor Jim McGreevey because of local tax increases that were caused mainly by the Republican school boards and the bad policies of former Governor Christine Todd Whitman.

Varano Won BIG, And Potter Didn't Like It

The Republicans didn’t ask for a recount because Varano didn’t just win: he won BIG, making him a potential super star in a party that has demonstrated a low-life lack of leadership since County Chairman Fred Potter and former Dover Township Club President “Doctor” Jack Moriarty began trying to dictate Democrat policy two years ago.

Varano Won By Nearly 3300 Votes

Varano’s margin of nearly 3300 votes is the largest margin by a local candidate in Ocean County this year, and one of the biggest local margins in Berkeley Township history.

Council Candidates
Also Won Big

And three at-large council members, Democrats who worked with Varano and supported his programs of inclusion and service, were re-elected by big margins.

Neither Potter or Moriarty showed up at Varano’s installation Saturday, to the relief of most Berkeley Democrats - but U. S. Senator John Corzine, no slouch at recognizing really genuine local political talent, came all the way from Washington D. C. to share Varano’s big day and administer the oath of office.

Sen. Corzine: "Jason Has Heart, Vision, Excellent Leadership"

“Jason is one of my best friends in New Jersey politics”, said Sen. Corzine. “He has heart; he has shown excellent leadership; he has vision.”

“The people of Berkeley township have chosen well,” Sen. Corzine said.

Mayor Russ Corby: "A Celebration Of Democracy"

Pine Beach Mayor Russell Corby, a veteran Democratic elected official who has been successful despite a top-heavy Republican voter registration in his community, described the Berkeley reorganization as a “celebration of Democracy.”

Corby reportedly has been privately critical of the “policy bankruptcy” of Potter and Moriarty, and has been mentioned by progressive elements of the county Democratic leadership, as a possible candidate for County Chairman when Potter’s two year term finally expires in June.

Varano Is “One Of The Best And The Brightest," Corby Says

Corby described Mayor Varano as “one of the best and the brightest,” and said the Mayor “used creative leadership to make this town better than it was in the great tradition of productive and economical government.”

In taking his oath of office for the third time in five years, Mayor Varano shared credit for his success with a broad spectrum of the Berkeley community.

“Thank you for my family and myself and the members of our council who do so much; and thanks especially to the dozens of hard working volunteers who make everything we do possible,” he said.

Varano also shared his gratitude with Berkeley’s team of public employees: “These are the folks who do much of the work in carrying out the policies for which we get credit,” he said.

Mayor Varano Quoted Robert Frost: "I Have Promises To Keep"

He quoted several lines from one of the poet Robert Frost’s most famous poems: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep; but I have promises to keep; and miles to go before I sleep; and miles to go before I sleep.”

More about Mayor Russell Corby, a Democrat sworn in for his fifth term in heavily Republican Pine Beach, and the future for him and Jason Varano and the Democratic Party in heavily Republican Ocean County. What's happening in a pivotal political year in Berkeley Update Part II, coming real soon on OceanCountyPolitics.      (for 1/5/04)

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