DiNardo unanimously chosen mayor of Hazlet Predecessor says he’s concerned about new majority’s intentions BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer For the first time since 2003, the Township Committee will be run by Democrats, following the swearing in of political newcomer Joseph Belasco and incumbent Kevin Lavan on New Year’s Day. Lavan, who first won a partial term on the committee in 2005 along with James DiNardo, was chosen by the committee to be its new deputy mayor, with DiNardo to serve as the mayor. Both were chosen in unanimous 5-0 votes. The committee also consists of Republicans Michael Sachs, who was the township’s most recent mayor, and Bridget Antonucci. DiNardo, who ran unsuccessfully in 2004 and then gained a narrow victory the following year with Lavan as his running mate, said he will be coming forward with an agenda in the near future that will outline some of his goals and objectives for the new year. “We got our message out to the people this past year and now they’re listening to us and we’re listening to them, and we understand what they want,” DiNardo said. “The first time around [2004], maybe people didn’t really know us and what we were trying to do,” DiNardo explained. “Then they saw what we did the following year and they believed in us. Our goal now is to do everything we can to make Hazlet Township a better place. We want to listen to the people and do what we can to help them out.” While DiNardo is glad to be in charge, his predecessor said he is worried that his hard work of the last two years will have been for naught. “Certainly, Bridget and I will try our best and put our best foot forward in working with the Democrats but as of right now, I don’t think Jim DiNardo is off to a good start,” Sachs said on Tuesday. Specifically, Sachs said that the Democratic majority could have taken advantage of the Republicans’ experience when making its committee assignments, but instead appointed themselves to the most important roles. He said residents who had expertise on the township’s various boards and committees were also replaced by less qualified people because they were Democrats. Sachs said that DiNardo “needs to leave the politics at the front door” and do what’s best for the township and not what is best for his own political party. “He’s not doing what a mayor should be doing in a small town,” Sachs said. “He’s just concerned with political affiliations. His goal should be to do what’s in the township’s best interests.” Sachs took particular offense to only being appointed as the liaison to the Board of Health during Monday’s reorganization meeting. “I have nine years of local political experience and that’s all I get?” Sachs asked. “I’m being treated like a newcomer and it’s ridiculous. It sounds like Mr. DiNardo wants to push the Republicans out and that’s wrong. My only goal has always been to help this township to be its very best and this is the thanks I get.” However, Hazlet Democratic Chairman Andrew Bace said the Republicans’ failures in recent years were a big reason his party was able to retake the majority this year. “I think it had a lot to do with the Republicans in town and how things were very mismanaged in Hazlet,” Bace said. “The new town hall and its location and the cost of it all; I think people are very unhappy with that whole thing.” Bace also said that he would like for the people of Hazlet to give the three Democrats, DiNardo, Lavan and Belasco, a chance to show what they can do for the community. He said that former Republican Mayor Paul Coughlin’s February 2005 arrest on corruption charges remains fresh on Hazlet residents’ minds. While Bace wants to see his people do big things in the new year, Sachs would rather just have everybody be on the same page. “We’re getting pushed out and it’s not right. We all need to get on the same page and not be divided,” he said.