Kathy Abbott Sworn In To Fill Chatham Township Committee Vacancy

CHATHAM, NJ — After a split decision over nominees to fill a vacant seat on the Chatham Township Committee at a special meeting this past Thursday, it sparked the Democratic Committee of Chatham Township to appoint Katherine “Kathy” Abbott for the vacancy on Tuesday.

The special meeting was called after the Township Committee’s two Republican members who are both attorneys, Mark Hamilton and Ashley Felice, said during a June 24 Committee Meeting, that choosing a committee replacement shouldn’t be done in executive session, as it had in the past, citing case law among their reasons.

At the special meeting on July 8, Hamilton and Felice chose one of the three that Chatham’s Democratic Committee selected for the seat, Paul Payton, with Deputy Mayor Stacey Ewald and Committee Member Celeste Fondaco picking Abbott.

Phil Ankel, one of those three and also the Democratic Committee’s Chair, said late Tuesday afternoon Abbott was sworn in early in the day and is expected to be sworn in again ceremonially at the Township Committee’s next meeting this Thursday, July 15.

The Township Committee’s agenda for Thursday night already confirms the ceremonial oath of office for a new Township Committee member. Additionally on Thursday, a new mayor and deputy mayor will first be nominated among the committee members, then take their oaths of office once each is picked.

None of the new oaths of office could take place until the vacancy issue had been resolved.

The need to fill the seat happened after the township’s former Mayor Tracey Ness, resigned on June 11 before the end of her term, with a move out of the township with her family. After she announced she wouldn’t run again in April, Ness endorsed Abbott, who was the uncontested Democratic nominee in June’s primary. Daniel R. Bevere, who additionally ran uncontested in June for the Republican nomination, will challenge Abbott for the spot.

“I look forward to getting to work on behalf of the township’s residents,” Abbott said in a statement released by the Democratic Committee on Tuesday.

Abbott, who previously served on the committee and was a former Republican, added, “As an active Planning Board member, community volunteer and former Committeewoman, I’m glad I’ll be able to hit the ground running on day one to help move issues toward a positive outcome for our residents.”

Ankel and Payton also each endorsed Abbott for the seat, with Hamilton and Felice expressing concerns about that, as well as Abbott referring to them as “extremists” in a social media post after the June 24 meeting, when the vacancy was first discussed. They asked how she could work with them, which is why they chose Payton.

Abbott, who referred to herself as a “centrist” during a question and answer period for the three candidates at the July 8 special meeting, responded to Felice - who asked about the social media post - that she was “easy to work with.”

“Times change and politics change, but most people still meet in the middle,” Abbott read in her prepared statement at the special meeting.

RELATED: Chatham Twp. Mayor Won't Seek Re-Election, Endorses Fellow Dem.

RELATED: No Surprises In Chatham Township, Borough Council Primaries

RELATED: Mayor Tracy Ness Resigns From Chatham Township Committee

RELATED: Chatham Delays Committee Member Vacancy Decision Until July 8

RELATED: Another Stalemate On Chatham Committee Vacancy Decision

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at jennifer.miller@patch.com.