Reps. win on state and county levels

Hammonton First sweeps; Board of Ed.: Donio, Coia, Attanasi

Former councilman and current Atlantic County Fifth District Commissioner James Bertino was reelected and Former Hammonton Board of Education president and current councilman Joseph Giralo was elected to the position of county clerk. (Courtesy Photo)

HAMMONTON—On Election Day, local and area residents voted to elect three local Republican officials to higher office. November 2 also saw Hammonton First sweep for mayor and council and two incumbents beaten in the Hammonton Board of Education race.

Former councilman Michael Torrissi (R) was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly, District 8.

“At the end of the day, this election was about grassroots. You saw it all throughout Hammonton with lawn signs on every lawn and local passion that carried Jean Stanfield, Brandon Umba and me across the finish line. $7 million of Camden-political funding to our opposition was no match for that passion. I know Jean, Brandon and I will use that energy and carry it over to Trenton to represent the people of Hammonton and the rest of the 8th District,” Torrissi said in a statement.

Former Hammonton Board of Education president and current councilman Joseph Giralo was elected to the position of county clerk.

“I am looking forward to serving the people of Atlantic County each and every day,” Giralo said.

Giralo first began serving the public when he was appointed to the planning board.

“I have been in public life since I was 18. It is very exciting to keep advancing and to keep going up the ladder. And most important, I have never forgotten where I came from,” Giralo, 59, said.

Former councilman and current Atlantic County Fifth District Commissioner James Bertino was reelected.

“I’m really overwhelmed by the show of support the voters of the Fifth District have given me in this election. I look forward to working with all in government who want to make the lives of their citizens better,” Bertino said.

James Curcio, a Hammonton resident, is the current Atlantic County surrogate, making it four people from Hammonton serving higher office.

“The people of Hammonton have always been so supportive of people from Hammonton running for higher office. The elected officials that come from Hammonton are supportive of Hammonton. I think the quality of our people is second to none,” Giralo said.

Torrissi, Giralo and Bertino will begin their terms in January.

According to the county, the unofficial results for mayor of Hammonton: Hammonton First Mayor Stephen DiDonato received 2,584 votes and Republican challenger William “Bill” Cappuccio received 2,057 votes. DiDonato will begin his fourth term in January.

“I am very honored and excited to serve the taxpayers, all 15,000,” DiDonato said.

DiDonato spoke about the four Hammonton residents who will now be serving in higher office.

“We were talking about that after that evening to have four people to go to higher levels of political affiliation is absolutely unbelievable. Hammonton is a town of hard workers and overachievers. We don’t know when to stop,” DiDonato said.

The unofficial results for council were as follows: Councilman Thomas Gribbin (HF) 2,535; Jonathan Oliva (HF) 2,492; former councilman Edward Wuillermin 2,387; Anthony Rizzotte (R) 2,098; Rocco “Rick” Fichetola 1,954 and Anthony “Tony” Penza 1,950 votes.

The unofficial results for the Hammonton Board of Education race were as follows, as of November 5: Kelly Donio 2,070; incumbent Thomas Attanasi 1,909; Luke Coia 1,828; incumbent Erica Polito 1,794; incumbent Michael “Mickey” Pullia 1,583 votes and Sean Grasso 1,369 votes.

“I am overwhelmed by the support. I am excited to try to bring the board together to work as a team and reunite the Hammonton School Board,” Coia said.

Donio, Attanasi and Coia will be sworn into office in January.