Ventnor Mayor Beth Maccagnano Holtzman.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – Mayor Beth Holtzman will be providing a voice for Atlantic County residents as she is sworn-in as the newest member of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors Board of Directors.
The often outspoken mayor said she plans to voice concerns about issues affecting the county.
“Atlantic County will surely have a voice now,” she said early Thursday morning.
She was planning to attend the organization’s Zoom meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday to be sworn in.
Holtzman said Longport Mayor Nicholas Russo, who was appointed to the board a few months ago, nominated her for the post and the board voted affirmatively on her appointment.
Four representatives from each county may serve on the board. Northfield Mayor Erland Chau is a also a member. Holtzman’s appointment eliminates one of two vacancies on the board.
According to the conference’s website, the group started in 1963 by a group of mayors who believed their “collective voices should be heard in Trenton and Washington.” It likened mayors to “front line soldiers” seeking common ground on issues impacting their residents.
Since then, the NJCM has become the largest statewide organization in the nation representing the interests of mayors.
“It’s a board that will have the ear of the NJ Legislature and the federal government,” Russo said. “We address issues that our grassroots mayors are more sensitized to.”
Russo said some issues that are important to Atlantic County residents may not be of interest to all 21 counties, such as the shore protection issues affecting Atlantic County communities.
“I plan to make sure whatever comes down the pipeline is good for all Atlantic County communities,” he said.
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