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Trentonian Article: Smith Master of Ceremonies at event'Supreme Court Justice Alito returns home to swear in Hamilton Mayor Yaede'
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. said he was asked by a friend from North Jersey if he occasionally searches for directions to the township street named in his honor.
“No, I don’t quite do that, but I do get a thrill when I drive down the road and I see it pop up on my GPS,” Alito said Friday at Cedar Gardens in Hamilton. “I always will regard Hamilton as home.” Alito made to the trip back to Hamilton to swear in Mayor Kelly Yaede to a second term. The justice said the two discussed opportunity, hard work and having bold dreams before the ceremony. “I know those are things that are very important to her and I do think they characterize the best of Hamilton Township,” said Alito, a former Steinert student council president who was class valedictorian.
Yaede, the township’s first female mayor, said she was honored by Alito’s presence. “In the history of Hamilton Township, it’s the first time that a United States Supreme Court justice has performed the duty of administrating the oath of office,” said Yaede, who was first appointed to office following the conviction of former Mayor John Bencivengo in 2012, then elected twice by voters. “I must say it is not only an honor for me Justice Alito, but it is an honor for all of Hamilton Township for you to be here and leaves a mark not only in Hamilton Township and our great community but for the entire country to see what has come from the great town of Hamilton Township.” The inauguration brought out many prominent Hamilton politicians. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) was the master of ceremonies and introduced Alito. Smith highlighted Alito’s eloquent remarks during his Senate confirmation hearing in 2006 about his hometown after being appointed by former President George W. Bush. “He told the Senate during his confirmation hearings, ‘I got here in part because of the community in which I grew up. It was a warm, but definitely an unpretentious, down-to-earth community,’” the longtime congressman recalled. “That describes Hamilton Township to a T.” Alito said he first met Smith in 1986 when he was attempting to become U.S. Attorney of New Jersey and asked the congressman for his support. “Without that, I would not have been appointed as U.S. Attorney,” Alito said, noting he had no involvement with politics at the time. “Had I not been appointed as U.S. Attorney, I don’t think I would have had my judicial career, so I am deeply indebted to him for that.” Tracing his history through Hamilton, Alito said his parents moved to the township shortly after he was born. He lived in Mercerville, attended Mercerville School and Reynolds Middle School, spent two years at the current Nottingham High School when it was then called Steinert, before moving to the present Steinert High School for his senior year. In a light-hearted moment, the justice, whose grandfather worked at Roebling Steel, said his mother taught many years in the Hamilton Township school system. “I think she left on the final day when she was required by law to retire — I think possibly they had to send the Hamilton Township Police to drag her out of the classroom, so I feel very many warm ties to Hamilton,” he said to laughter from the crowd. “What I said at my confirmation hearings about growing up here was definitely how I felt then and how I continue to feel.” During the swearing in, the Hamilton born, raised and educated Yaede was joined on the red, white and blue decorated stage by her family. Alito was the first to offer her congratulations after she took the oath. Also on Friday, Councilwoman Ileana Schirmer and newly elected Councilman Ralph Mastrangelo, both Republicans, took the oath of office. Mastrangelo, a retired township cop of 26 years, was sworn in by Hamilton Township Councilman David Kenny. “I understand the importance of a strong community and I’m prepared to continue to serve the public with my role as a councilman,” the newly elected official said. “I’m not a traditional politician and I don’t intend to be one.” Schirmer, the township’s first Hispanic female councilwoman who initially entered office to fill the remainder of Yaede’s term in 2012, was administered the oath by former State Sen. Peter Inverso. “Always know that I serve you,” she said. “I work for you.” Yaede, a Republican, dedicated her election win to “every girl who was told they couldn’t do something.” Before becoming mayor, Yaede said she was told that no one would ever be able to pronounce her name and that the township wasn’t ready for a female leader. “Dare to dream big,” she said. “But please realize that everyone has the opportunity in the greatest country, but you have to earn it and you have to work for it and nothing will come easy.” This story was printed on Jan. 2, 2016 on Page One and can be found online at: http://www.trentonian.com/general-news/20160101/supreme-court-justice-alito-returns-home-to-swear-in-hamilton-mayor-yaede |