ANNOUNCEMENT: The 2023 Slate for Garwood Council
By Ann ( Bevy) Tarantino | Published in the Union County Hawk March 30, 2023
The Garwood Democratic Committee is happy to announce our 2023 slate for Borough Council!
Incumbent Councilman Vincent Kearney is seeking re-election for a second term as a Member of Council. A fourteen-year resident with his wife Veronica and twin boys Anthony & Vincent, for the past two years Vinnie had dedicated himself to the job of Councilman, taking on additional initiatives in addition to the normal Council committee assignments. He has worked to increase transparency in local government by creating a Borough YouTube channel for live streaming / recording Council and Planning Board meetings; to enhance technology to help residents access local government services (such as the ability to join public meetings and speak via Zoom); and also worked with our small business community by launching and serving as Council liaison for the Garwood Small Business Board. In just one term, Vinnie has also served on nearly every Council committee and is in his second year as Fire Commissioner.
Karina Boto will be seeking election for her first term as a Member of Council. Karina is a legal assistant at a law firm in Short Hills and a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University. Karina, along with her two daughters, has been a resident of Garwood for eight years. As a volunteer member of the Green Team, Karina has worked hard on her mission to improve Garwood’s sustainability and has participated in programs such as Adopt-A-Highway and Clean Communities. Karina is also a member of the Mayor’s Citizen Advisory Panel, lending her background and expertise to matters such as Garwood's capital purchases as well as road paving and parking projects.
Sean Keagan Foley is also seeking election for his first term as a Member of Council for this year’s unexpired seat. Sean is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Psychotherapist and received his bachelor’s at Kean University and his graduate degree from Rutgers University. He is also an Eagleton Institute of Politics Fellow. A former firefighter for Middlesex County, Sean has dedicated his life to helping build communities by supporting families and individuals as a social worker. He has worked assisting foster youth, helped and advocated for families and individuals who are experiencing homelessness, educated communities about the dangers of smartphone and social media addiction and has developed initiatives to assist households and communities impacted by the opioid epidemic. Currently, Sean is the CEO of Compassionate Mental Health Services where he provides psychotherapy services to individuals and families throughout Union County and the state of New Jersey. He, his wife Lina and their dog Nova live in Vermella Garwood Station.
Ann Tarantino – Chairperson
Garwood Democratic Committee