Home

With six daughters and three sons, Antonia "Toni" Ricigliano's full-time job for many years before entering public life was her family. In that regard, the mayor-elect of Edison says her values are strikingly similar to Jewish ones.

"I always knew the Jewish community is very family-oriented, as are many of the ethnic communities, but as a religious community it's a very family-oriented community, and so I've always had an affinity for that, because being an Italian, family is always our primary concern," Ricigliano said in an interview at her home with The Jewish State. "So in that regard we are very much alike."

As a resident of Edison for 48 years, that much she already knew. During meet-and-greet gatherings at Jewish homes on the campaign trail, Ricigliano, who defeated incumbent Jun Choi in November's Democratic primary and will take over as mayor Jan. 1, said the community's hospitality was "just so evident."

Ricigliano, who will be Edison's first female mayor, said she has also been impressed with how the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County and the Edison YMCA are able to share the same site on Oak Tree Road but still be respectful of each other's needs to serve their own, as well as other, religious communities.

"I think people are willing to work together, and I think it's indicative of the township," she said.

After receiving her undergraduate degree on her 53rd birthday from Kean College (now Kean University) in Union, Ricigliano, 71, taught at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Jersey City for four years before leaving that job to take care of her grandchildren. At that point, in 1997, she said it was time to finally follow through on running for Township Council in Edison after years of resisting the urges of friends who thought she would be perfect for the job.

Before running for council, Ricigliano had already been part of the Edison Democratic Committee for more than 20 years and was heavily involved in the community as a result of taking part in her children's activities, ranging from the Parent Teacher Association boards to Pop Warner football and the North Edison baseball and softball youth league. Since she didn't have to worry about college, commuting to Jersey City everyday, or being "totally immersed in everything my children did," there was finally time in 1997 to pursue a council seat and put her strong political opinions to work.

"It just seemed the next step for me," Ricigliano said.

Ricigliano said she initially "was happy serving on council" and didn't see her involvement leading to a run for mayor, but that changed in the last few years when she "really felt the township needed to go in a different direction" and felt she was the one who could make that happen. She said her top goal is stabilizing taxes in Edison to provide relief for residents, which can be accomplished first by cutting government costs.

Edison employees will now commute to work on their own and only use township vehicles for township business, Ricigliano said, and she will also take a pay cut from the current mayoral salary level.

"I realize that's not going to amount to a lot, but it's a start," she said.

Ricigliano said she never promised during the campaign that she would cut taxes, because it was something she wasn't sure she could follow through on. That was in line with her first promise during the race -- that she would never lie. Her other promises were that she would be frugal with taxpayers dollars like she is frugal with family finances, and that she would exercise no retribution on township employees who didn't support her.

She said she made those promises because she knew she could keep them.

"I do not feel that employees should have to walk on eggshells," Ricigliano said. "If you are doing your job, that's all I care about."

Ricigliano is also prioritizing the enhancement of the lives of senior citizens in Edison, through suggestions like helping them with tax preparation, providing screenings for medical conditions, workshops on nutrition, and expanded hours at the Edison Senior Citizen Center. Stabilizing taxes will enable seniors to stay in their homes, she said.

"People who have helped to build up this community should not be forced out when they still can and want to live here," Ricigliano said.

Besides for being "a little part of history" as Edison's first female mayor, Ricigliano said the distinction can help her serve as an inspiration to young girls that they, too, can be leaders and pursue lofty goals.

"I think I opened the door a little bit to young women," she said.

Regarding the special needs of the Jewish community and sometimes specifically the Orthodox community, such as extra garbage pickup and security near synagogues and schools during the High Holy Days, Ricigliano said Edison always works to provide those things and that will not change.

"I've assured them that that practice will continue," she said.