ABERDEEN – Fred Tagliarini, who has been a resident of Aberdeen Township since 1987, has been elected to serve his fourth four-year term as mayor.
In the 2021 general election, according to results posted online by the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, Tagliarini, a Democrat, turned back a challenge from Republican William Sullivan.
As of Nov. 10, Tagliarini had received 3,490 votes and Sullivan had received 2,914 votes. The election results will remain unofficial until they have been certified by the county.
The 2021 election was held with vote by mail ballots; with early in-person voting on nine days in late October; and with in-person voting on Election Day, Nov. 2.
Tagliarini briefly served on the Township Council in 1995.
More than a decade later, in November 2009, he was elected to his first term as mayor and took office in January 2010. His fourth term as mayor will run from January 2022 through Dec. 31, 2025.
In a statement he provided to the Independent, Tagliarini pledged accountability to the municipality’s 18,700 residents and said they can expect continued transparency and consistency.
“Residents can expect the same level of response to their needs. I pledge that I will continue to be available 24/7. When you call my office at town hall, the phone greeting gives the caller my cell number. When a resident has a problem, they have to know I am willing and ready to help,” Tagliarini said.
The mayor said he plans to establish priorities for several projects that will focus on improving the township’s infrastructure.
“I am very proud to say as an incumbent that we will continue our roads project, continue to improve our neighborhood parks and to deliver the quality of life services our residents expect,” Tagliarini said.
Despite the challenges of campaigning during a time when COVID-19 remains an issue, Tagliarini said he still managed to reach residents at a distance.
“The pandemic made us very aware not to infringe on the safety of our residents. We did our door-to-door walks mindful of this. We would knock, leave literature on the door and back off the front door to a safe distance to speak. We did not confront anyone who was angry with our visit,” he said.
