Gloucester County Democrats convened on March 20 to fill their party slate and selected Washington Township Mayor Joann Gattinelli to run for county commissioner in November.
She would replace Heather Simmons, who is seeking a state assembly seat. Gattinelli will run with incumbent Jim Jefferson and Pitman Councilman Mattew Weng. Earlier this month, the county Republican organization selected its candidates for three open county commissioner seats: Frank Fisher, Brooke Rivello and Erik Anderson.
In a statement Gattinelli said, “I am honored to have received the endorsement of the Gloucester County Democratic Committee to seek the office of Gloucester County Commissioner. I am humbled that my service as mayor of Washington Township has been recognized and that the members of the committee have put their faith in me to represent them at the county level. I look forward to working together for the betterment of our county.”
Gattinelli defeated incumbent Mayor Barbara Wallace in the 2016 Democratic primary, then beat Republican Joseph Micucci to win her first term as mayor. She beat Republican Vincent Spinelli and independent candidate Giancarlo D’Orazio to win her second term in 2020.
Gattinelli is a township high-school graduate and has lived in the municipality for more than 30 years with her husband and two sons. She owned Gattinelli Pizza and Pasta in the township for 12 years and holds a real estate license, according to the township website.
