23/12/2025
𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗩𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘆
The seat now vacant on Hammonton Town Council was originally won by Mayor-Elect Steve Furgione as a 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. In New Jersey, long-established precedent supports filling a mid-term council vacancy with a representative of the same party or slate, honoring the will of the voters and ensuring continuity in local government.
In keeping within the spirit of the law from that precedent, Hammonton First has formally recommended Councilman Jonathan Oliva to serve the remainder of the 2026 term. His prior experience on Council allows the town to move forward without disruption.
We respectfully ask the newly elected Mayor and Town Council to give due consideration to this request and to conduct the selection process transparently, clearly informing residents how the replacement will be chosen and what qualities and qualifications this individual should possess.
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.
— Hammonton First
