APRIL 2, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY MARINA VILLENEUVE
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
WALDWICK — When Anthony Celeste was elected councilman three years ago, he had a starry-eyed view of local politics as free of the dysfunction in Washington, D.C. But just two years in a ground-level office has made him reverse that outlook.
Celeste, a 25-year-old devotee of libertarian Ron Paul and Waldwick’s youngest-ever councilman, this week announced he’s leaving politics “for good” and won’t seek reelection.
“Unfortunately, our political dysfunction from D.C. via Congress has spread like a disease to our NJ Assembly, county, and local municipalities,” Celeste wrote on Twitter late Monday.
Celeste, a Republican, won his first three-year term in November 2012. It will now be one of two council seats up for grabs in November, with Republicans Joseph Oravetz and incumbent Charles Farricker likely vying against Democrats John Danubio and Joseph Giovannoli. Republican Mayor Thomas Giordano, now in his first term, will run against Democrat James Schultz.
In an interview, Celeste said he remains optimistic about politics, but that state lawmakers are failing future generations by not addressing sky-high property taxes and a huge pension crisis.
“The country’s in dangerous territory,” Celeste said. “I don’t want to sugarcoat anything.”
https://www.northjersey.com/news/politics/waldwick-councilman-has-had-enough-1.1301207