In front of a packed meeting room and following their election victories in November, Colleen Bianco Bezich, Jennifer Fleisher and Edward McDonnell were sworn in to new terms on the county board of commissioners.
McDonnell – who was unanimously approved to continue as deputy director – congratulated Fleisher and Bianco Bezich for their work on the campaign and said he expects them to do good work on the board.
“These are two great people,” he noted. “We are very very fortunate to have them as part of our team now. Jenn has been here for a while. Colleen, brand new, so we’re very excited to have them and I think we’re all going to find having them with us is a great thing for the board and for Camden County.”
Among officials at the meeting were Congressman Donald Norcross, state Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, Assemblywoman Melinda Kane, Assemblyman William Spearman, Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher and the mayors of Barrington and Audubon.
Cruz-Perez welcomed Bianco Bezich and congratulated McDonnell and Fleisher on their return to the board.
“Let me start by welcoming Commissioner Bianco Bezich,” Cruz-Perez remarked. “You are going to be a great addition to this board. Congratulations to Commissioner Ed McDonnell and Commissioner Fleisher for your reelection again. I’m biased because I do work for the county, and I think this is the best county in the entire state, Gloucester County to follow.”
Both McDonnell and Fleisher were already board members, while Bianco Bezich – Haddonfield’s mayor – was newly elected in November, replacing former member Virginia Betteridge, who did not seek reelection. Board Commissioner Jonathan Young thanked McDonnell, Fleisher and Bianco Bezich, saying he looks forward to working with them.
“Ed, it’s going to be great working with you again over these years,” Young related. “And Colleen and Jenn, Jenn’s been here just a tad longer and Colleen, it’s going to be really good to work with you. We’ve known each other for years and finally we are colleagues as we speak.”
Commissioner Al Dyer congratulated McDonnell and Fleisher and explained that Bianco Bezich will now sit to his right on the board.
“That seat right here is truly a different seat,” Dyer observed. ” … You’re there for a reason. Melinda Kane sat there and she did a fantastic job. She separated Jon and I. It wasn’t easy. We caused problems now and then, especially Jon. But this is a hot seat …
“We look forward to working with you …” he added of McDonnell, Fleisher – who is married to Cherry Hill Mayor David Fleisher – and Bianco Bezich. “You’ll be fine. We got your back. They put you here for a reason.
“We got your back.”
Camden County Clerk Pamela Lampitt (left) swears in new county Commissioner Colleen Bianco Bezich at the board’s reorganization meeting on Jan. 6
In her first speech at the end of the meeting, Fleisher thanked everyone who voted for her, especially veterans, and said she looks forward to working with the rest of the board.
“I want to thank the residents of Camden County for their confidence and to have the opportunity to serve,” she related.
After thanking her family and other representatives, Bianco Bezich expressed gratitute to Fleisher for the work they did together on the campaign.
“It has been phenomenal to campaign alongside (Fleisher),” Bianco Bezich observed. “You know, Ed mentioned that our campaign felt like a marathon, not a sprint, but we were doing both at the same time. And it just was so wonderful to show up to meetings with someone who would tell me if my hair was out of place, but also be really well versed in all the issues we had to talk about.
“And bringing to the table new ideas,” she added. “And bringing to the table that camaraderie that we all seek.”
The meeting also saw Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli unanimously approved to continue in his role.
“Camden County is a better place because of Louis Cappelli,” Commissioner Jeffrey Nash said. “His leadership, not only in public safety, economic development, job creation, but also tackling the opiate addiction crisis in this county, in this country, is remarkable.”
Cappelli was unable to attend the meeting due to illness; he will be sworn in at a future meeting.
