The following remarks were made by Dean Dafis on January 1, 2024 after he took the oath of office for his third three-year term on the Maplewood Township Committee. Dafis won reelection to the TC, along with running mate Victor De Luca, in November. Dafis is also stepping down from serving two years as Mayor of Maplewood. The mayor — or “Chair” — of the TC is elected annually by fellow TC members; Nancy Adams was elected to serve as Mayor for 2024.
Dafis (top) with TC member Deborah Engel (left) and Mayor Nancy Adams.
Esteemed guests and fellow residents of Maplewood Township, Happy New Year!
I am deeply honored and humbled to be sworn in for my third term, profoundly grateful for the trust you have placed in me to serve you. Your unwavering support and belief in our shared vision have granted me the opportunity to continue serving our incredible community.
Reflecting on our journey together, I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished during my first two terms on the Maplewood Township Committee. Together, we’ve made strides in enhancing our infrastructure, advancing our sustainability, promoting community engagement, equity, and social justice right here at home, and fostering a vibrant, inclusive community that we all call home.
My commitment to serving Maplewood Township goes beyond mere dedication; it is a passion ingrained in every decision, every action I take. The faith placed in me fuels this passion, and I am resolutely committed to continuing the work we’ve started. You can expect from me in the next three years that which you’ve grown accustomed to already – passionate dedication, sincerity, empathy, accessibility, and creativity.
As the outgoing Mayor, I’m excited to witness the transfer of power to our longest serving female committee member, Nancy Adams. I wish her the very best as our incoming Mayor, may she enjoy it as much as I did and be challenged by it as much as I have been – there will be highs and lows, Nancy, your resolve will certainly be tested. May these challenges and the unforeseen lead you to tap into the best of yourself. Surely, we will be with you every step of the way.
When reflecting on my leadership, I’d like to share the reflections of a resident who has been a reliable constructive critic of mine – this resident reached out to me recently to thank me for my service and remarked that in my approach as Mayor in particular, I have been sensitive and thoughtful, amazingly balanced, fair, and sincere. I’m very proud of that. I’m also very proud of the history we made to together with my becoming Maplewood’s first LGBTQ+ elected Committee Member and Mayor – though hopefully not its last.
To you my fellow TC members, I thank you for your support. I’m proud of our work together especially this past most-challenging year when we proved yet again that local government can and should be the most direct and impactful source of good in people’s everyday lives, more so than any other level of government. We are truly essential and front line, we can and have made a difference. I will remain collaborative and loyal to you. A special note of gratitude goes to my running mate, Vic De Luca who I congratulate on his being sworn into his 9th term in local office – truly remarkable – he remains tireless and influential, a mentor and role model, inspiring to the rest of us and especially to me.
In 2024 and beyond, I see boundless opportunities to elevate Maplewood even further. Our collective vision is clear: to continue nurturing a community that thrives on diversity, inclusivity, and progress. And, also to promote economic opportunities, our town’s branding & standing statewide, enhance our public communications and interactions with the public, see our adopted Master Plan recommendations implemented, be even greener & more sustainable, enhance pedestrian safety and our mobility, and combat all forms of hate that divide and distract us from our shared humanity, goodwill, and aspirations. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of our township officials – from Department Heads to every employee – they are the backbone of our township; they are the ones who make everything possible.
In closing, let us embark on this new term united in purpose, driven by a collective desire to make Maplewood Township the best it can be. Thank you for this tremendous honor. I am eager and ready.
Thank you.
