Cherry Hill Dems pick Susan Shin Angulo for mayor

Cherry Hill Democrats tonight picked Camden County freeholder Susan Shin Angulo to run for mayor.

Mayor Chuck Cahn is not seeking re-election to a third term.

Councilwomen Melinda Hopkins Kane and Sara Lipsett are also not seeking re-election.  They will be replaced on the ticket by Michele Golkow and Jennifer Apell.

Kane is expected to move to the Board of Freeholders on March 28 when Camden County Democrats hold a special election to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Bill Moen.  Moen, the South Jersey state director for U.S. Senator Cory Booker, is seeking the 5th district State Assembly seat.

Once Kane resigns to become a freeholder, Cherry Hill Democrats will meet to submit three names to the council as replacements.  That could be Golkow or Apell — or a caretaker.

Councilman Brian Bauerle will seek re-election.

“I am grateful for Chuck Cahn’s exceptional leadership — guiding Cherry Hill through a period of financial stability that has set an example for municipalities across the State of New Jersey,” said Shin Angulo. “As Mayor, I will continue Chuck’s financial stewardship as we continue to be fiscally responsible and expand open space while building on our shared progressive values to make Cherry Hill a place where everyone’s opinions matter, and where government is transparent and responsive to residents.”

Shin Angulo became the first Korean-American woman to win a Cherry Hill council seat in 2009, and became Camden County’s first Asian-American freeholder in 2015.

Democrats tout Shin Angulo’s “American Story.”

Her father escaped the communist regime in North Korea and served in the South Korean Marine Corps before emigrating to the United States when Shin Angulo was four.

Golkow and Apell are making their first bids for public office.

Golkow was the president of Temple Beth Shalom and of the Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern New Jersey.  She is a employee benefits attorney with Ballard Spahr in Philadelphia.

Apell, an estate planning attorney, serves on the Cherry Hill Zoning Board and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Planned Parenthood and South Jersey Legal Services.

“We’re thrilled to have a talented and enthusiastic ticket in Susan, Brian, Michele, and Jennifer running this year,” said Jonathan Rardin and Meryl Greene, Co-Chairs of the Cherry Hill Democratic Committee. “We’re grateful and thankful to Mayor Cahn for his many years of service. We know Susan and Township Council will pick up where Mayor Cahn will leave off, and make sure Cherry Hill Township is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead. We know that working together, we will continue to make Cherry Hill a premiere community in the state and country.”