SAYREVILLE – In the Nov. 3 election, two Republicans are seeking two available seats on the Sayreville Borough Council.
Republicans Karen Bailey Bebert and Danielle Zaleski are running for the three-year terms held by Democrats Vincent Conti and Mary Novak, who are seeking re-election. Conti and Novak are profiled in a separate article.
A lifelong Sayreville resident, Bebert is a graduate of Sayreville War Memorial High School. She has served on the boards of several non-profits, including as president and vice president of the Emma L. Arleth Elementary School PTA, president and vice president of the Sacred Heart Council of Catholic Women and member of the Sayreville Historical Society. As president of the Samsel Upper Elementary School PTO, she was part of helping it become a tax exempt, charitable organization.
Bebert also co-founded Bridges of Peace and has served as vice president. In 2017, she helped lead a drive to help Texas residents affected by Hurricane Harvey, which resulted in 17,500 pounds of items being sent to those in need. Additionally, Bebert volunteered at the Briarwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in Sayreville.
After earning a degree in accounting from the University of Hartford, Bebert practiced public accounting for several years. Her duties included working on municipal audits and serving individual and business clients. She later joined her family business Buddies Restaurant and Banquet Hall, which was established in the 1940s. Managing the establishment for over 20 years, Bebert offered the use of the hall to many of the town’s local groups and clubs at no charge.
“I am seeking election so I can utilize my education, business skills and people skills to serve my fellow residents with honesty, accountability, fiscal responsibility and transparency,” Bebert said. “My concerns are keeping high density housing down, public safety of our residents and businesses and supporting our police, fire and EMS [emergency medical services], which provide all that and stabilization of property taxes.”
According to her biography, Zaleski is a longtime resident of Sayreville who has worked in customer service for over 10 years. She is currently responsible for instructing New York and New Jersey employees on the utilization and troubleshooting of company software, including, but not limited to QuickBooks, Microsoft programs and Bamboo HR.
Zaelski, according to her biography, maintains all compliance and credentialing for the New York and New Jersey branches of the company. She has also developed and updated policies and procedures manuals for both states branches to maintain compliance for all sections of business on a corporate level and maintains employee compliance with state accreditation standards.
“Danielle has strong experience in administrative work with more than 10 years in the multifaceted field of customer service,” her biography reads. “She has a proven ability to adapt in fast paced environments and possesses strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
“Danielle has held a number of positions involving dealing with clients and staff and has handled all in a professional and effective manner,” the biography reads. “She demonstrated herself to be a people person with keen technical and administrative skills which have prepared her well to serve her town as a member of the council.”
