Monica Charris Tabares was appointed tonight to fill a vacant at-large seat on the Bloomfield Township Council, becoming the first Latina to serve on the governing body.
Her appointment is the latest move in a game of political musical chairs that began with the election of Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia to the State Assembly. The council, in a 4-2 vote, selected Councilman Ted Gamble as the interim mayor against Jenny Mundell, a councilwoman.
Charris Tabares, the director of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation Head Start Program, now fills the at-large council seat vacated by Gamble. Her selection was unanimous.
Mundell is challenging Gamble in the Democratic primary in a special election to complete the final thirteen months of Venezia’s term. Charris Tabares will run on the Democratic organization line with Mundell.
Born in Colombia, Charris Tabares immigrated to the United States at age two.
“I am incredibly honored to be trusted with this tremendous responsibility and will do my absolute best to uphold Bloomfield’s long-standing values of integrity, professionalism, and transparency,” Charris Tabares stated. “I’m excited not only to serve on the Council, but to run for the seat alongside Jenny Mundell in the upcoming Primary Election where we will have the opportunity to keep Bloomfield moving forward.”
Venezia said Charris Tabares and Mundell “represent a new generation of leadership that will continue to move Bloomfield forward.”