Cohen will make debut with committee tonight
Republican leader makes selection to fill open seat
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

Susan Cohen

MANALAPAN - Susan Cohen will take her seat on the Township Committee at tonight's regular meeting of the governing body.

Cohen was sworn in last week as a member of the committee, filling a seat on the five-person panel that had been open since May 1 when former committeeman Joseph Locricchio resigned citing health issues.

Cohen's appointment will expire Dec. 31, but she is hoping to remain on the committee for the next three years. She is running on the Republican ticket with Committeeman Andrew Lucas in the November election when two seats will be up for grabs.

Lucas is serving as Manalapan's mayor this year.

Cohen was one of three residents whose name was submitted by local Republican leaders for consideration as the appointee to succeed Locricchio. The other candidates for the position were Manalapan Republican Club President Kalman "Butch" Budai and Susan Heckler.

The Township Committee did not appoint one of the three recommended individuals after a request for the candidates to be interviewed in public was rejected by Manalapan Re-publican Munic-ipal Chairman Steve McEnery.

Ultimately it was left up to McEnery to choose from among the three and he tapped Cohen.

Cohen and her husband, Eli, along with Heckler and McEnery looked on as Cohen was sworn into office by Municipal Clerk Rose Ann Weeden at town hall on June 7.

A formal swearing in ceremony is expected to take place at tonight's committee meeting.

Cohen said she would get to work coming up to speed on municipal issues. She had to resign her seat on the Planning Board in order to accept the committee appointment.

Lucas said an alternate member of the Planning Board will be moved up to complete the final two years of Cohen's term on the board and the search will begin for a new alternate.

Speaking about Cohen's selection to complete Locricchio's unexpired term on the governing body, Lucas said, "I'm very happy we have a new Township Committee member and especially excited that we are going to have someone as

capable as Mrs. Cohen working for the citizens of Manalapan. I am looking forward to serving with her."

Cohen said she was sad to have to leave the Planning Board, but said that was countered by her excitement over the prospect of serving on the committee.

"I'm excited to be on the Township Committee although I wish it had been under different circumstances," she said, referring to the fact that Locricchio resigned due to health reasons.

Cohen said Locricchio called to congratulate her on her appointment.

Cohen is a sales manager at a Monroe Township residential development. She has lived in Manalapan for 21 years. She and her husband, who owns a fire restoration company, have one son, Eric, 26, who is attending law school in Michigan.

Cohen said she is not going to be "presumptuous" and was going to take the needed time to acquaint herself with the duties and parameters of municipal government.

"I hope I can be an asset to the Township Committee and to the residents. That is why I want to more fully develop as a member (of the governing body), but also as the newest member I believe I should look to acquaint myself with the issues and not be presumptuous. I need to hear the ins and outs first," she said.

Cohen said once she feels she has her sea legs, she will work to bring programs to Manalapan that protect children from predators. She said she has already started looking into some programs but was not at the point where she was comfortable advocating any one in particular.

Cohen said she will retain her position on Manalapan's Domestic Violence Response Team.