World War II vet, 93, sworn in as mayor

Vito Perillo isn’t one to sit idle, watching days trickle by after 92 years of life.

Perillo, 93, thrust himself into the heart of municipal government, winning the post of Tinton Falls mayor in a stunning upset over the incumbent, Gerald Turning, in November. Perillo officially assumed the position Tuesday evening during his swearing-in ceremony, where state Sen.-elect Vin Gopal, D-11, administered the oath.

“This was a very historic election,” Gopal said moments before reciting the oath to Perillo. “Vito, for all of you know, World War II veteran, served his country, now has come back to serve his town. It’s really an inspirational story.”

Politics in Tinton Falls are nonpartisan, but Perillo is a registered Republican, according to voter registration records.

Perillo is not the oldest mayor in the USA. That title belongs to Charles Edwin Long, 94, who has been the mayor of Booneville, Ky., since 1959.

Perillo and his campaign team stoked support for the campaign by going door to door, Perillo said in November. The team distributed 7,500 campaign fliers, and Perillo said he wore out two pairs of shoes.

As many other mayors and council members around the state did Monday and Tuesday, Perillo, a former electronics engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense, a U.S. Navy veteran and newcomer to politics, took the oath.

Unlike other swearing-in ceremonies, Perillo didn’t swear on a copy of the Bible provided by the municipality. Instead, he swore on a copy that belonged to Mae, his wife of 64 years who died in 2013.

As mayor, Perillo is required to attend two monthly mayor and council meetings and a monthly Fort Monmouth board meeting. Perillo oversees a $24 million budget.

Campaign volunteers and members of Perillo’s family attended the swearing-in ceremony, adding to a full room at the Tinton Falls Municipal Complex. Among the crowd were New Jersey Assembly members Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling, both local Democrats; Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden; and Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon.

Along with Perillo, Brock Siebert, 36, who was elected to his first term as a councilman, took the oath, along with incumbent John Manginelli.

Monmouth County Freeholder Tom Arnone gave the oath to Siebert and Manginelli.

Vito Perillo, center, served his country and serves his town. DAN RADEL