Democrats Announce Slate of Council Candidates

Mayor Jason J. Varano last night formally announced he will run for a fourth term.

Varano will face Republican Township Councilman for the four-year mayoral term.

Varano, 38, was first appointed to the mayor's seat in 1998, after the death of former Democratic Mayor Bill Zimmermann Jr. He was elected to his first full term in 1999. 

Democratic municipal chairman Ralph Frulio told Berkeley Patch earlier this week that .

The Berkeley Township Democratic Club last night also released the names of the council candidates for the three at-large council seats up this year. They include Anthony R. Mazzella, Bayview Avenue, James L. Egan, Northumberland Drive, and Edward Olsen.

Mazzella has served on the Planning Board since 2002. Egan is vice-president of the Democratic Club. Olsen is a commissioner on the Berkeley Township Municipal Utilities Authority.

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.

Berkeley Patch will have a more complete story later today.