Gitta Kaplan was sworn in last night as the newest member of the Ocean Township Council, becoming the first member of the burgeoning Syrian Jewish community to hold local office.
Kaplan, a 39-year-old attorney, was appointed to replace Margie Donlon, who resigned earlier this month to take her seat in the New Jersey State Assembly. She was sworn in by State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch).
An unaffiliated voter, Kaplan was supportive of 11th district Democrats in last year’s election.
Donlon won re-election to a four-year term in the May 2023 non-partisan municipal election; Kaplan will need to run in a special election this fall for the balance of Donlon’s unexpired term.
Councilman David Fisher was picked to replace Donlon as deputy mayor; Donlon administered his oath of office.
In the November general election, Donlon and her running mate, Luanne Peterpaul, unseated two Republican assemblywomen, Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner. Donlon carried Ocean Township by 1,628 votes over Piperno, the top GOP vote-getter.
Gopal won Ocean Township by 2,315 votes, the largest plurality the municipality has ever given a State Senate candidate.
Gov. Phil Murphy lost Ocean Township in 2021 by three points, and Joe Biden won it by seven points.