David Fleisher, Carolyn Jacobs and Carole Roskoph were all sworn in to town council while the newest member, Sangeeta Doshi, made history as becoming the first Indian American to be elected to town council in South Jersey.
It was an uplifting evening Friday, Jan. 5, at the Cherry Hill Township Municipal Building for the annual council reorganization meeting. The room was filled with family and friends of those being sworn in to serve on council; some were familiar faces and others were new.
Incumbents David Fleisher, Carolyn Jacobs and Carole Roskoph all took their oath while the newest member, Sangeeta Doshi, made history as the first Indian American to be elected to office in South Jersey, according to Mayor Chuck Cahn.
With her friends and family surrounding her, Doshi stepped up to the podium to express her excitement for the adventure ahead.
“I will do my best to serve and work for all of the people in Cherry Hill,” Doshi said. “I will try hard to bring people together from diverse backgrounds in different communities with inclusivity benefiting the town.”
The daughter of immigrants, Doshi said she was able to see firsthand how hard her parents worked to create a life for their children, setting an example for her to give back to the community from an early age.
Cahn and council welcomed her and expressed their joy to have her as part of their team.
“We are honored and excited to have you on our team; I look forward to working with you as we embark on another exciting chapter in our great town,” Cahn said.
When asked about her feelings directly after the swearing in, Doshi said she was thrilled and eager to begin her new journey and begin making a difference in her community.
“I’m humbled, excited, honored,” Doshi said. “It’s time to get to work.”
A Cherry Hill resident for more than two decades, Doshi said she intends to add a new perspective as a councilwoman. One of her main objectives throughout the duration of her time on council will be uniting residents of all religious and racial backgrounds.
“I’m interested in increasing diversity,” Doshi said during her speech.
Doshi wasn’t the only councilwoman with plans for the upcoming term. Having previous experience serving, Jacobs was optimistic about the road ahead.
“In the past two years, I hope that I have brought credit to myself and my family and hope there’s much more credit in the years ahead,” Jacobs said.
Roskoph voiced her gratitude to Cahn for swearing in Police Chief William Monaghan in 2013. Cahn swearing in the police chief was the best decision the mayor has ever made, according to Roskoph.
She also took a moment to thank the volunteers, friends, family and residents who supported and voted for her.
“Four years ago, I stated that I do not stand here alone, to say that I did would be dishonest, and that is still true today,” Roskoph said.
Fleisher echoed Roskoph’s sentiments and expressed his gratitude to his parents who have been “putting up” with his campaigning since he began his organized efforts in eighth grade. He looked toward the audience, thanking them for their support.
“Every election is an opportunity for us to ask ourselves, ‘What type of community do we want to be,’” Fleisher said. “And it’s also an opportunity to ask ourselves, ‘What kind of types of people do we want to represent us?’”
Looking toward the council, he expressed appreciation for being included in the people chosen to represent Cherry Hill.
In other news:
• Cahn swore in Fleisher to be council president and Sarah Lipsett as vice president.
• The date of next council meeting has not yet been announced.
