Amato Pledges to Run Positive Campaign for Mayor's Seat

Township Councilman Carmen F. Amato Jr. wants to add a new title to his resume - mayor of Berkeley Township.

"Berkeley Township has been my home for 40 years," Amato said. "I grew up here. I chose to stay here and raise my family. I want to give back to the community that gave so much to me."

Members of the Berkeley Township Republican Club formally nominated Amato, 42, at a mini-convention at Central Regional Middle School Monday night to run as mayor in the November election.

"Carmen will make a terrific mayor," Republican Club President James Fulcomer said today.

Amato's nomination was unanimous. Council President Karen Davis, Councilwoman Judy Noonan and Berkeley Township Board of Education President James J. Byrnes also screened for the nomination. All three withdrew and endorsed Amato at the mini-convention.

"He's by far the best candidate and the most qualified person," Fulcomer said.

Just who Amato will run against remains to be seen.

Democratic Mayor Jason J. Varano said earlier this year he was "leaning" toward running for a fourth term. But Varano declined to comment today and said he would have a statement on Thursday. Democratic Municipal Chairman Ralph Frulio could not be reached for comment.

Amato was first elected to the Berkeley Township Council in 2005, when he defeated incumbent Council President Peter Mustardo and broke a 7-0 Democratic monopoly. Amato was re-elected to a second term in 2009.

Amato's public service has not been limited to the Township Council.

He served five years on the Central Regional Board of Education. He also served seven years on the Berkeley Township Board of Education. He is a current member of the Ocean County Board of Health and serves on the Ocean County Commission on Exploited and Missing Children. Amato also served as chairman of the Board of Adjustment, two terms on the Berkeley Township Recreation Advisory Council and many years as president of the Berkeley Township Voters and Taxpayers Organization.

Amato said he plans to run a positive campaign.

"I'm running for mayor," he said. "I'm not running against any candidate. I'll get out there and press the flesh. I'm running a positive campaign. I have deep roots in this community. Everybody has been rooting for me to do this for a number of years."

The Berkeley Republican Club announced their council candidates earlier this year. Amato's running mates for the three council-at-large seats include John Bacchione, the current vice-president of the Berkeley Township Board of Education; Thomas Grosse, a current member of the Berkeley Township Board of Education; and Robert Ray, a current member of the Central Regional Board of Education and former president of Holiday City West.

"Property taxes are the number one issue in this campaign, and I am eager to put my fiscally conservative record on the Township Council up against any other candidate," Amato said. "This will be a campaign on the issues and I am eager to outline bold, new ideas to move Berkeley Township into the future."

Amato is the director of Ocean County's printing and graphics department. He has been employed by Ocean County for over 18 years as a seasonal and full time employee. He attended Bayville School as a child and graduated from Central Regional High School. He also attended Ocean County College. He serves on the council's budget, alternate energy and Route 9 revitalization committees.

Amato is a former member of the Bayville School PTA and Berkeley Township Elementary School PTA. He is a third degree Knight of Columbus and a former member of the Holy Name Society at St. Barnabas Parish in Bayville. Amato is a member of the Holiday City Silver Ridge Park Italian-American Club. He lives in Bayville with his wife and son.