1st Black Mayor In Moorestown History Expected To Be Appointed
Sen. Cory Booker will deliver video remarks at the council meeting, when his former staffer, Quinton Law, is slated to be voted mayor.
MOORESTOWN, NJ — Deputy Mayor Quinton Law is expected to become the first Black mayor in Moorestown history at Monday night's council meeting, when U.S. Senator Cory Booker plans to congratulate his former staffer.
Booker (D-NJ) is slated to deliver video remarks after the Township Council selects and swears in a mayor and deputy mayor.
The appointees have not been confirmed. But with Mayor Nicole Gillespie running for State Assembly, the council is expected to vote Law into the role.
Law is a U.S. Senate staffer who has worked for Booker. The senator was on hand when Law was sworn in as the youngest and first Black council member in Moorestown's history in 2021.
"With Mr. Law's expected selection to be mayor, Mr. Booker wanted to give a greeting," Township Manager Kevin Aberant told Patch.
Booker will also congratulate the three members who will get sworn in to council at the meeting, Aberant says.
At the meeting, State Sen. Troy Singleton (D, NJ-7) will swear in Moorestown's mayor and deputy mayor after they're selected. Booker will then deliver video remarks, according to the meeting agenda.
Moorestown will also swear in three members who were elected in November. Council Members Sue Mammarella and Christopher Keating were re-elected, while James A. Barry — a fellow Democrat — will succeed Council Member Dave Zipin, who did not run to retain his seat.
Like many New Jersey towns, the Moorestown council selects two of its own to mayor and deputy mayor. A mayoral appointment lasts for two years, while the deputy mayor is selected at the beginning of each calendar year.
Gillespie has been Moorestown's mayor since 2020. But she's expected to step aside from the role while remaining part of the council as she runs to represent New Jersey's 7th legislative district in the State Assembly.
Essentially, former Sen. Bob Menendez's legal troubles, which led to his conviction on corruption charges and eventual resignation, have created a political domino effect. Then-Rep. Andy Kim ran for Menendez's former Senate seat and won, while longtime State Assemblyman was voted to succeed Kim in the House of Representatives.
Kim and Conaway were both sworn into their new positions in recent days, which leaves Conaway's longtime Assembly seat vacant. The Burlington County Democratic Party can now appoint a caretaker to Conaway's seat for the final year of his elected term. But the voters will elect Assembly members this November, when Gillespie plans to run.
Law is a former community organizer who was voted to the council in 2020. He's also a U.S. Senate staffer who specializes in casework management and outreach, according to the township's website.
InsiderNJ called Law a "rising star," ranking him 72nd on the website's list of up-and-comers in New Jersey politics.
The council meeting starts at 7 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Complex (111 W 2nd St.). It will also be live-streamed. See the agenda.