Former Weehawken Deputy Mayor Robert Sosa was again sworn in as the township’s 3rd Ward Councilman this afternoon, now serving as an elected official in six different decades.
The vacancy on the council came after Raul Gonzalez resigned to pursue a new career opportunity in Florida last month.
Mayor Richard Turner said at today’s 16-minute special meeting said that the council passed a resolution after an executive session last night selecting Sosa to make his return to the dais, opting to go with the most experienced choice.
“Sometimes the person with experience is the person that we’ve had before,” he said, noting that Sosa has also committed to run with the incumbents again in the May 2022 municipal elections.
Sosa, who has served as both councilman and commissioner and was first elected in November 1978, was joined by his mother Katie, his wife Desiree, and his granddaughter Gabriela – who held the Bible while he took the oath of office.
He also thanked his father William and Gonzalez for his work after being elected in May 2018.
After reclaiming his seat on the dais, Sosa explained why he decided to return after opting not to seek a ninth term three-plus years ago.
“My mom Kate and my dad William always told me to do the right thing, at the right time, when the right thing needed to get done. Sometimes you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do. This happens to be one of those times to do the right thing and that is exactly what I’m going to do,” he stated.
“District 1 and District 2 in the 3rd Ward in the Township of Weehawken will not go another day without proper representation in government. Our area is too precious, our residents are too precious: our children, our schools, our streets, our clubs, our employees, our view: man up there it doesn’t get any better.”
Turner seemed pleased to have his old friend back on the council.
“He’s been doing that same speech for years,” he joked.
