Also, former member Frank Schmidt was honored for his 19-year service on Council at the Jan. 3 reorganization meeting.
At the Jan. 3 reorganization meeting, three members were sworn into four-year terms on Gloucester Township Council, including Democrat incumbents Daniel Hutchison and Michelle L. Winters and newly-elected Scott D. Owens.
Winters, standing beside her son, Eric, was sworn in by council Vice President Tracey Trotto. Eric also held the Bible for Hutchison as he, too, was sworn in by Trotto.
Winters was also appointed to a one-year term as the Gloucester Township liaison to the Blackwood Lake Advisory Committee. Hutchison was appointed to the township’s planning board for one year, as well.
“I look forward to the next four years and, hopefully, we can get a lot accomplished,” Winters said.
Owens, surrounded by several family members, was sworn in by council president Orlando Mercado, as Owen’s wife, Jennie, held the Bible with their son Max and daughter Amelia.
Owens will also serve for one year as liaison to the township’s housing authority.
“I’m proud of the campaign we ran and proud of everything that we stand for and what this council stands for,” Owens said. “I’d like to thank my family, first and foremost. Jennie, Max and Amelia — they’ve been my rock throughout this whole campaign. … They’ve been there every step of the way and I wouldn’t be up here up right now if it wasn’t for Jennie, Max and Amelia.”
Mercado was selected to serve as council president for the third year in a row. As his son, Alexander, held a Bible, Mercado was sworn into his role by state Sen. Fred Madden. Trotto will also return to her role as council vice president for the third year in a row, as she was sworn into office by Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty.
In November, Democrat incumbent David Mayer was elected to a third-term as the mayor of Gloucester Township. While he was not present for the reorganization meeting, Mercado says Mayer was sworn in prior to the new year by the township solicitor, David Carlamere.
“Congratulations Michelle, Dan, Scott, Orlando, Tracey — let’s continue the progress,” Councilman Michael Mignone said. “Also, I’m sitting in a big seat here. This seat was filled by our previous councilman, Frank Schmidt. Frank, I’m going to try to make you proud.”
Members honored Schmidt for his 19 years on council, serving Gloucester Township from 1998 to 2017. Before his service in local government, he was on Black Horse Pike Regional’s board of education for eight years. A longtime township resident, he worked in the school district for 31 years. He’s taught at C.W. Lewis, Ann A. Mullen and Glenn Landing schools.
“We’re going to miss him. We love him, and on behalf of our township and everybody here, thank you for the 19 years on council,” Mercado said.
Council presented Schmidt with a clock representing all the time he spent governing, as well as his official name plate.
Schmidt thanked Council and the audience for their recognition.
“I grew up here, I love it here, and I worked here and met a lot of great people. It was a pleasure to serve the residents of Gloucester Township,” Schmidt said.
