Submitted by Berkeley Township Republicans
BERKELEY TWP-On Saturday, January 28, 2017 over 130 members of the Berkeley Township Republican Organization met at the Berkeley Township Elementary School Auditorium to nominate and endorse candidates for the upcoming June 6th, 2017 primary election, said Republican Municipal Chairman and Mayor Carmen Amato.
The endorsed candidates are: Councilman James Byrnes (Ward 1), Councilman Angelo Guadagno (Ward 2), Councilwoman Judy Noonan (Ward 3) and Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich (Ward 4).
Byrnes, who served as a Medic in the 82nd Airborne during Vietnam, where he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, was appointed to the Council in 2012 after the retirement of Councilwoman Karen Davis. He won the unexpired term in November of that year and was elected in 2013 to a full four-year term. Byrnes is a 33-year resident of Bayville and a former two-term member and President of the Berkeley Township Board of Education. He also served as Chairman of the Berkeley Township Planning Board and Member of the Berkeley Township Board of Adjustment. Councilman Byrnes currently serves on the Ocean County Construction Board of Appeals and the Ocean County Board of Social Services. He’s a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 9503, St. Barnabas Knights of Columbus 8603, former Vice President for the International Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 2018, and a volunteer for Northern Ocean Habitat for Humanity.
Guadagno was elected in 2013, after Councilman Kevin Askew chose not to seek re-election. Councilman Guadagno is a 14-year resident of Bayville and prior to his service on the Township Council, Councilman Guadagno served on the Berkeley Township Recreation Advisory Council and the Open Space Acquisition and Advisory Committee. Guadagno coached in Berkeley Boys and Girls Basketball, Berkeley Little League and Girls Softball, and is an educator in the Berkeley Township School System. Councilman Guadagno is Chairman of the Townships’ Parks and Recreation Committee, member of the St. Barnabas Knights of Columbus 8603, Holiday City Silver Ridge Park Italian American Club and the Berkeley Township Elementary School PTA. He has four children all attending Berkeley Schools.
Noonan is currently the longest serving Council member, having been elected in 2009 and then re-elected in 2013, and served as Council President in 2015. Councilwoman Noonan currently serves as President of the Holiday City – Silver Ridge Park Coalition and is a Commissioner on the Berkeley Township Housing Authority. She is a former President of the Silver Ridge Park East Homeowners Association and volunteers as a member of the Berkeley Township (CERT) Community Emergency Response Team and the Ocean County Board of Health Medical Reserve Corps.
Gingrich was first elected in 2013, served as Council Vice-President in 2016 and was unanimously selected to serve as Council President for 2017. Councilwoman Gingrich served for three and a half years as a member of the Berkeley Township Board of Education, including as Board Vice President in 2013 prior to being elected to Council. She has served in many capacities in her homeowner association, Holiday City at Berkeley. Councilwoman Gingrich also volunteers, directs and organized the monthly food truck visit by the Food Bank of Monmouth\Ocean Counties in Holiday City.
“Councilmembers Byrnes, Guadagno, Noonan and Gingrich are all exceptionally qualified representatives for our town and tireless advocates for the citizens and taxpayers of Berkeley,” said Mayor Amato. “I’m extremely pleased that they will be running for re-election and look forward to continuing the progress we’ve made on so many fronts.”
Amato cited demolition of Beachwood mall and infrastructure improvements that have begun to spark long-awaited revitalization along the Route 9 Corridor; an increased bond rating and the second lowest average overall property taxes in Ocean County; key services like additional police officers, including in the public schools, and top notch recreation programs; as well as free summer concerts and events in Veteran’s Park.
“We are proud of what has been accomplished, but there is always more work to do,” added Mayor Amato. “Together, we want to continue to establish Berkeley Township as one of the best places to live, work and retire in all of New Jersey.”