When Cherry Hill council was considering candidates to fill the remaining term of deceased councilman N. John Amato, they were hoping to find someone who had similar traits, goals and love for the township.
They would choose 39-year-old Brian Bauerle, chairman of the township’s planning board and a father of three who is very active in multiple Cherry Hill youth sports organizations.
Bauerle was unanimously chosen as the newest Cherry Hill councilman during a special meeting last Thursday. He will fill the remainder of Amato’s unexpired term, expiring on Dec. 31, 2015.
Council chose Bauerle after the township’s Democratic committee submitted a list of nominees. Mayor Chuck Cahn said Bauerle has shown many of the traits Amato had, including his dedication to volunteering time to township organizations and his willingness to communicate with residents.
“I know you will do us proud and all of Cherry Hill proud,” Cahn said.
Bauerle said it was very special to be Amato’s successor. He also acknowledged he has large shoes to fill. Amato was Cherry Hill’s longest-serving councilman, having served on council since 1983. Bauerle said he wants to be able to serve the township just as well as Amato did.
“I just want to carry on John Amato’s legacy,” Bauerle said. “He did everything with Cherry Hill first in mind. He did it with dignity, with pride, and to be here tonight, in the chambers named after him, is a very special thing.”
Members of council spoke of how Amato always encouraged younger adults to get involved with local government. Bauerle said Amato was one of the first people he met from the township and acted as a friend and mentor.
Councilwoman Carole Roskoph said she believed Amato would have been very supportive of Bauerle’s selection.
“John would be very proud and very honored to have you sitting in that chair,” Roskoph said to Bauerle.
Bauerle brings some government experience to council. He previously served as the chief of staff at the state Department of Transportation and was also the director of government relations for the state’s Department of Community Affairs. Bauerle is the director of community development for The Cooper Foundation at Cooper University Health Care.
A resident of the Knollwood section of Cherry Hill, Bauerle and his wife Kira are frequently involved in school and extracurricular activities at Kilmer Elementary School, where their three daughters attend. Bauerle is also a volunteer coach for the Cherry Hill Soccer Club and serves on the board for the organization.
Many family members and supporters joined Bauerle last night as he was sworn into council. One of those supporters was former Cherry Hill mayor Susan Bass Levin, whom Bauerle described as a mentor and friend. Bass Levin was very happy to see Bauerle appointed to the seat.
“I have known Brian for quite some time,” she said. “I know he will serve with distinction.”
Bauerle is excited to begin work on council. He believes the township is moving in a great direction and hopes his input will continue to keep things on the right track.
“The administration and the mayor have done a great job with three straight years without a tax increase,” he said. “So I’m coming into a great situation.”
