NJ Sen. Vince Polistina swears in Maria Mento as Ventnor City Commissioner as her friend Michael Goloff holds the Bible, Feb. 23, 2023.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR Commissioner Maria Mento, who was appointed to temporarily fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Beth Holtzman until the next general election, will be running unopposed in the Nov. 7 election.
Mento was the sole candidate to file a nominating petition with the City Clerk's Office by the 4 p.m. deadline Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Mento, who was hired as the city's temporary acting administrator two months after the Imagine Ventnor slate of candidates won control of the Board of Commissioners in May 2016, transitioned to her new role on the governing body when she was sworn-in on Feb. 23.
Mento worked as executive vice president and chief financial officer for the Atlantic County Utilities Authority for 25 years until she retired. Her prior employment included working for Atlantic County government for 10 years.
Following her retirement from the ACUA, Mento was appointed temporary acting city administrator through a professional services contract with Jersey Professional Management, which recruits retired public executives for new roles in government. JPM principal Thomas Ciccarone is currently filling the role of administrator.
I'm thrilled to be running for the position of Commissioner. This is a first for me. But having served as administrator for approximately seven years prior, it's a nice segway, Mento said.
Mento said she will continue to work with her fellow commissioners on initiatives that benefit the city and keep an eye on things that are important to our taxpayers.
We have been a team that works well together and still challenges each other pretty much since day one, including when Beth was here, she said.
Even though she will be unopposed on Election Day, Mento said she hopes citizens will turn out to give her their vote of confidence.
Mento will be required to run again when the entire Board of Commissioners is up for re-election to four-year terms in May 2024.
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