Medford Township reorganized on Jan. 6 with a new mayor and deputy mayor.
Councilman Michael Czyzyk was nominated and will serve as mayor and Michelle Voorhees was nominated and will serve as deputy mayor.
“Thank you to the residents of Medford for the trust you have placed in us,” Czyzyk said. “To my fellow council members, to have been chosen as mayor is both humbling and deeply meaningful. This is a responsibility that I do not take lightly, and I will work each single day to honor it.
“For all of us on this dais, today is not simply a start of a new year, it is a continuation of a long tradition of public service and a town that expects and deserves the very best from its leaders,” he added. “We are here because the residents of Medford believe in us, in our judgment, in our intentions, and in our commitment to doing what is right for this community.”
Czyzyk began his mayoral address by thanking past council members, police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, Public Works, township employees, board members and event volunteers.
“You are the reason,” he noted. “You are the reason Medford is more than a town. Your sacrifice is seen, it’s appreciated and it’s essential.”
The reorganization meeting is an inflection point for Medford, its new mayor emphasized.
“Inflection points do not define community on its own,” he explained. “We define them by our choices, our conduct, our intentions. To my colleagues on council, I would like to speak directly with respect: Our responsibility is to Medford – only Medford – not any outside pressures, not noise or distraction.
“Not anything that pulls us away from the work people expect us to do.”
As mayor, Czyzyk said he intends to “strengthen and expand how we communicate with our residents.”
“You will see regular mayor’s reports, changes to our agenda structure, town-hall style meetings and clear opportunities for residents to share ideas and concerns,” he assured. “We will continue to use tools like the Discover Medford QR code, to provide accessible information; highlight what’s happening in town; and ensure residents feel informed, connected and included.”
Personally, Czyzyk said, serving has mayor “carries deep meaning.”
“I have always viewed Medford as the sunlit uplands, a place worth driving for, worth saving for, worth dreaming about … a place where someday can not just live, but to give back,” he reflected. “Today marks another opportunity to do exactly that. I now have the privilege of serving every family in Medford, families that have been here for generations and families that just began their story here.
“For all of them, this responsibility matters. Thank you for believing in Medford. Thank you for believing in what we can accomplish together.
“We are here to serve.”
At the beginning of the reorganization meeting, Raymond Coxe, Katherine Santamore and Michelle Voorhees took their oaths of office on council. They won the three open seats in the November election.
