Mayor hired a Democrat as well as a Republican
BY PATRICIA A. MILLER Staff Writer

BRICK TOWNSHIP - Showing up at all kinds of functions in town is just part of the job, Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said.

That's why he attends Board of Education and Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) meetings, as well as sporting and charity events.

Acropolis took issue with a recent editorial in the Bulletin that suggested Brick MUA commissioners might have been influenced by his presence, along with Republican Club President Stephen Scaturro at a recent meeting where they tapped Republican Freeholder James F. Lacey as the new executive director.

"I go to those things because it is the duty of the mayor," Acropolis said Monday. "Just because the past mayor didn't do it, doesn't mean the new mayor doesn't do it."

He also wants Brick residents to know that he tapped David Francese, a Democrat, to eventually head the township recreation department.

"I'm trying to bring in qualified people, no matter who they are," he said. "I have done everything I can to develop a new attitude in town. I hired two people. One was a Republican and one was a Democrat. I hired them both based on qualifications."

Both Juan Bellu, a financial consultant who is also an official of the Toms River Republican Club, and Francesewere hired last month as data systems analysts.

Bellu will eventually serve as an assistant business administrator. Francese is the past president of the Brick Pop Warner Dragons.

Both positionswere needed as part of his plan to revamp the township's organizational chart, Acropolis has said.

"I don't hire people based on party," the mayor said. "Dave is a guy I have come to know over the last couple of years fromrunning a youth organization in town. You go to the banquets, you see how he runs the organization."