Friedman was sworn in for another three-year term by Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. Michael Mignogna was also sworn in Voorhees Township mayor.
At the Voorhees Township Committee’s Jan. 5 reorganization meeting, Mike Friedman took his oath of office as he was sworn in as a member of the committee by Lt. Governor Guadagno, with his family by his side.
Friedman, an attorney with Jackson Lewis P.C., thanked Guadagno and his family for their support, especially his wife and 6-year-old son Zachary, who helped him knock on doors on the campaign trail. He also thanked his nephew, Robert, who Friedman called his inspiration to get involved with local government.
“It is you kids, your friends and classmates who have served and continued to serve as the inspiration for me originally to get involved and to stay involved with local government, so that we ensure we have a town in which you can grow, flourish and reach your maximum potential,” Friedman said.
He also thanked the volunteers of the Voorhees Republican Club and the Camden County Republican Committee for believing in him and helping when it counted.
“You folks weren’t sacrificing your time or donating your hard earned money in hopes of getting paid back at some job or being appointed to some board,” he said. “You were doing so because you cared deeply for our town, and you wanted to ensure we had much needed checks and balances in local government and to ensure we have a Voorhees that works to be responsive to all its residents.”
Friedman noted he received more votes than any other Republican candidate for Voorhees Township Committee since 1999, and he’s thankful for those who never voted Republican until this year.
“People weren’t voting for party, they were voting for good government,” he said. “They were voting for a responsive government, voting for a transparent government and a government which obtains real solutions to problems affecting its citizens.”
“I pledge to continue to seek the right answer and solutions for our residents, and I proudly accept the awesome responsibility to preserve our township for the future, working alongside our committee members. Lastly, I pledge to never sacrifice my principles or my integrity in this office, because without these two qualities, we as human beings are truly empty and we cannot lead. My loyalty is and will always be to you, the Voorhees resident and not to any other entity or interest. I thank you all again for this tremendous honor, and as I have enthusiastically done for the last six years, I look forward to serving you all faithfully and steadfastly for another three years.”
The Jan. 5 meeting also saw Michael Mignogna once again selected as the township’s mayor. Mignogna thanked the committee for giving him what he described as the honor, opportunity and privilege serve as mayor for the 13th year, and thanked the township employees for their dedication.
Mignogna spoke highly about the biggest projects that were accomplished in 2016, including an addition to the Voorhees Medical Campus on Route 73 as well as numerous events that drew hundreds of Voorhees residents, including its annual Fall Fest, tree lighting and Santa parade, and the Summer Concert Series.
“Amazingly enough, this past May marked five years that the Medical Mile, this economic magnet came to our town,” he said. “This year, we added Samaritan Hospice, the only free-standing hospice in South Jersey to that medical mile.”
Mignogna also spoke about the future of the Voorhees Town Center with the recent announcement of Macy’s closing.
“This Voorhees Town Center continues to be a destination and a downtown that we’ve never had before,” he said. “In spite of the announcement of the Macy’s closing, which was not a surprise to any of us …. We have been working and will continue to work with the owners of this town center and with the county and with the state to make sure that space is occupied and put to good use.”
