By AUBRIE GEORGE | The Moorestown Sun
In mid-December, Dan Roccato announced he would retire from his post as mayor of Moorestown and say goodbye to his career on Council once his term expires in 2010.
Roccato, 48, has been a member of Council for eight years, serving on two previous Councils and serving as mayor for the past year.
He is proud, he said, of the way the current Council has worked as a team and tackle tough issues.
“This Council has really worked well together,” Roccato said. “There is a minimal amount of politics, there have been no personal attacks. In years past that has not always been true.”
He said this current Council, which was formed in 2009 when Deputy Mayor John Button, Councilman Greg Gallo and Councilman Michael Testa joined Roccato and Councilman Seth Broder in office, has made strides to work together as a team and has made significant progress.
“I think what I’ve noticed is that we had serious issues in the previous councils, they were essentially dysfunctional. There was a lot of partisan politics, there was a lot of personal attacks,” Roccato said. “In my case, two of the previous Councils I’ve served on were stymied by in-fighting.”
Having said that, Roccato said he hopes he has grown from his experiences on Council.
“I hope, and I stress the word hope, that I’ve become more patient and respectful of others,” Roccato said.
“I hope my colleges and the public would say that.”
While he has learned a lot in eight years, he said one issue he still struggles with is COAH.
“It is probably the single most complicated issue that we deal with,” Roccato said.
“I’ve learned a lot about affordable housing in the state of New Jersey. You’ve heard me say it’s the poster child for what is wrong in our state and I still believe that.”
Despite some residents’ requests that he run for higher office in 2010, Roccato said he plans to devote his time to his family, church and business.
Roccato lives in town with his wife Carol and their four children.
He is the owner of Quaker Wealth Management, an investment advisory firm, and also works as an adjunct college professor.
As he gets ready to serve his last year on Council, he said he is excited to continue the progress Council started making in 2009. Though he will not run for reelection in 2010, he hopes his eight years on Council have made an impact on Moorestown.
“For me personally, I’ve grown and I hope I’ve become more tolerant, a better listener, more respectful of others and I hope, in some small way, that I’ve added some value over the last few years,” he said.
