Massell: No Joking About M'town & NJ

credits GOP leaders in New Jerseywith removing the state's name from the punchlines of late night comedians.

To Massell, who started his first year in his new post on Sunday, Governor Chris Christie, State Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos, Jr. (R-13th), and other GOP lawmakers in Trenton are the forces behind making the state affordable to live in via cutting government spending and lowering taxes.

Echoing newly re-elected , Massell promised to work with the full governing body to continue searching for and implementing cost-cutting measures to achieve local .

Now in the third year of his first term, Massell proclaimed that he will channel all his energy into his new job.

"...I pledge to the people of , from Lincroft to Leonardo and Oak Hill to Chapel Hill, that you will get nothing less than 100 percent of me as your deputy mayor," Massell said during his post swearing-in address at the township's annual reorganization meeting.

The rise of fiscal discipline and restraint within state government--and its trickling down to municipal government--all began with Christie's election in 2009, Massell told those attending gathered at . Christie's leadership has paved the way for more property tax relief in the years to come, he noted.

"Never in my lifetime have I seen such pride and hope for our great state and for our great municipality," Massell said.

"It wasn't too long ago that New Jersey was mocked and [was] the butt of jokes from late night talk show hosts," he continued. "But in two short years, [New Jersey has] been catapulted into the national spotlight and viewed as a model for leadership across the nation."

"In Middletown, the township committee has continued its tradition of fiscal responsibility. We have shown the same fiscal restraint in cutting spending and delivering a that fully conforms with the governor's propety tax agenda," Massell said.

"In 2012, I pledge my support to continue to look for new ways to improve the through sound fiscal responsibility, expand[ing] our with local municipalitiesand provid[ing] property tax relief to our taxpayers," he said.

Drawing upon the wisdom of the legendary Green Bay Packers football coach buried in Middletown, Massell described how he believes his own initiatives will enhance the township committee's success.

"'Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work and a civilization work,'" Massell said quoting Lombardi. "I am proud to be part of this governing body, and I believe you are looking at one of the best teams Middletown has ever had."

After mentioning that both he and his wife Emily lost both of their mothers in 2011, Massell thanked his family for sacrifices they have made since he joined the committee in 2010.

Massell has most recently served on theas the township committee's designee. His seat on the all-GOP governing body will be up for re-election this coming fall.

A township native and former member, Massell is a sales associate for Gloria Nilson Realtors in Rumson.