Hughes Eyes Council Presidency

The Township Council could have a new president for 2012.

According to several council members, Michael Hughes will be named president for 2012 at the council’s reorganization meeting, Monday, Jan. 9, at 8 p.m. in the township courtroom.

“I’ve always had an interest in serving in a leadership role,” said Hughes, who was elected to the Township Council in November 2010 and spent 2011 as the council vice president. “I think I work well with members of both sides of the aisle, I work well with my running mates (Republicans James Wendell and Camille Ferraro) and have a good relationship with (Mayor David Stahl) and council members (Denise) Contrino and (Nancy) Pinkin.”

The 22-year-old Hughes grew up in East Brunswick, attending East Brunswick High School before eventually serving on the East Brunswick Board of Education. Now a council member, he is the youngest person to serve on either of those governing bodies.

Councilwoman Camille Ferraro, and Councilwoman Denise Contrino said they would support Hughes. Councilman James Wendell did not respond to requests to be interviewed for this story.

“He did reach out to me and ask for my support, and as you know Democrats are the minority on the council, it’s a 3-2 split, so whether or not I support him, he’s going to be president,” said Contrino. “He’s a smart, bright young man and has a bright future for him and I guess we'll have to wait and see how he does in the position.

“I support him and I’m going to give him my vote. I think reaching across party lines is the right thing to do. I don’t think the whole Republican/Democrat thing is working at the municipal level.”

Ferraro, the current council president, said she supports Hughes in his efforts to be president and thinks he’ll do a fine job.

“Michael wants a shot at it, and so I’ve got confidence that he’ll be able to do it,” she said. “I don’t think they’ll be any disruption in the way we’ve been handling things.”

On Thursday, Jan. 5, Democratic Councilwoman Nancy Pinkin said she is still considering who she will support for council president, but said Ferraro has done an excellent job during 2011.

“I support Camille,” said Pinkin. “I think she would be a good president, she has been a good president and I think she should be president again.”