Growing up, Victoria Napolitano always had an interest in politics, however she couldn’t see herself running for office. But today is a different story, as Napolitano was recently appointed as Moorestown’s mayor at the age of 26, the youngest person ever elected as the town’s mayor.
“I’ve always been aware of what was going on and had political opinions, but I never saw myself running for office,” Napolitano said.
Growing up in Union County, Napolitano was involved in the performing arts, doing plays and musicals at her high school. When she attended Drexel University, she was a scholarship member of the college choir and a member of Naturally Sharp, a select group of 16 singers chosen by audition.
After graduating from Drexel with a combined bachelor’s and master’s program in education, Napolitano moved to Moorestown with her husband Vinny. Getting to know South Jersey through friends at her college as well as through her husband’s job, as director of constituencies for Gov. Christie, the Napolitanos decided to settle in Burlington County, ultimately Moorestown.
“Moorestown was the obvious choice. They have a great community. It’s a place we could see ourselves settling down and one day raising a family,” Napolitano said.
The Napolitanos first lived in the Lenola District at Moorestown Woods before moving to a west Moorestown home where they reside today.
Napolitano got involved with the Republican County Committee, but it wasn’t until she started to speak up about artificial turf that she considered running for office. She didn’t believe in using open space money to build athletic fields with artificial turf. It was a split decision within both parties, but ultimately the township opted to use other funding methods. Her involvement and opinions made people notice her and ask her to run for a council seat.
“Many people appreciated my point of view and my opinions, so they encouraged me to consider running,” Napolitano said.
Thus led her to running in 2012 when she was elected to her position as council member. During her time on the council, Napolitano has made the Lenola district a major focus. As mayor, she has committed to working on Lenola and building it up this year.
“It was my first home. I noticed it wasn’t getting the kind of attention Main Street was getting. It needed and deserved a little more help,” Napolitano said.
When Napolitano isn’t spending her time with various committees in town, she is either at work or home. During the weekdays, Napolitano is a designer of e-learning modules for an international data and information firm in Philadelphia. Not being a fan of coffee or in need of caffeine, she likes to have tea while at work.
“I’m not a wake up and have caffeine kind of person,” Napolitano said.
After work and committee or council meetings, Napolitano likes to come home and cook dinner for herself and her husband. And, after that, she likes to relax and watch television with her husband and adopted dog Delilah. Some of her favorite shows include “House of Cards,” “Downton Abbey,” “Game of Thrones” and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”
Napolitano also likes to read when she can. Liking a combination of non-fiction and fiction, she recently finished Jim Gaffigan’s book about his life and is reading the Jason Bourne series.
Although she doesn’t have a lot of free time, some of her hobbies include getting back into the performing arts, cooking and dining out, and recently taking up photography. Napolitano got back into theater, performing in the last two MoorArts summer productions, because she really loves it. She said her favorite part is getting to know the cast and her interactions with them. She also thinks it is fun to enter into that world for a little while and help to create that world.
Napolitano said she likes everything about food and doesn’t have a particular favorite. In regard to the camera, it is something she just recently picked up and is testing out on the weekends when it is a nice day or when she isn’t seeing friends or going out to eat.
“I’m kind of messing around with it. I don’t know where it is going to go, but for now it is fun,” she said.
“I’m busy, but I like it that way,” she said.
