Fair Haven Councilwoman Michal DiMiceli looks forward to big things in 2025


By:  | January 6, 2025 Fair Haven

 

By Emma Sylvia

 

One of the best ways to get involved with your community is through local politics. Fair Haven Councilwoman Michal DiMiceli offered insight about her role on the council after being sworn in on January 2nd, 2024, as well as how to get involved with local politics and what residents and visitors to Fair Haven can look forward to in 2025.

 

Q: What made you decide to run for Fair Haven Borough Council, and what was running like?

A: About four years ago, I decided I wanted to get involved locally in Fair Haven. I got involved with the Green Team, and one of the women on the Green Team was in office, and she suggested I get in touch with the Fair Haven Democrats, and I got involved that way. Erin Howard, who ran for Senate, asked me, “Would you consider running my campaign?” I thought it was a crazy question, but I thought about it, and then I ran her campaign for three months. It was a whirlwind — I was thrown headfirst into politics after never having run a campaign before. From there, I got connected with Congressman Pallone’s campaign, so I was a field organizer for that. I loved that experience, and through both, I met so many amazing people. I met so many women running for office that I was so impressed by and inspired by, and I got the bug. 

 

Through volunteering with the Green Team, I saw firsthand things that I thought could be improved. My background in business management and analysis, and event planning, would be an asset to Fair Haven. I work for Mayor Pallone in Long Branch in city administration and I felt like this experience also made me uniquely qualified to help out in Fair Haven. I understood the political side and the management of a municipality. I also have some major flooding that’s happening, and a development was built behind me where a lot of things went wrong. Dealing with that, I felt like things needed to get changed. I didn’t want anyone else to be in the position my family and I were in.

 

Running for office was interesting. It was my third campaign that I was in three years in a row, but this time it was for myself. I had knocked on so many doors in two years [campaigning for others], I thought that I wanted to knock on some doors for myself. Fair Haven is a very friendly place, so a lot of people actually open their doors. I had a lot of really great conversations and became aware of some of the issues I wasn’t aware of in town, and I got to know a lot more of the residents. 

 

My mom passed away during the campaign. It was hard, but the campaign gave me something to focus on. It was therapeutic.

 

 

Q: What does your day-to-day look like?

A: I work for the city of Long Branch as the Community Outreach Manager. It’s a unique role. Long Branch is very fortunate to have a great administration and a supportive mayor and council. One of my roles is as a special projects manager. One of the big projects is the Senior Center. We just opened the new center up in August and doubled the size of it. There’s a computer room, a floor-to-ceiling library, a lobby with a fireplace, multiple activity rooms, multiple classrooms — it’s been really great to be here for this opening and bring more programming to the seniors. We’ve had about 350-400 new members; it’s expanded quickly. 

 

I launched the Disability Resource Fair. We also recently launched Uptown Broadway Fest. It has an amazing mix of cultural businesses and restaurants, so we wanted to highlight that area. We work with the Arts and Cultural Center for a lot of locally driven events. Day-to-day, my days can be all over the place. Right now, I’m working on the newsletter that captures everything we’ve done in the past year. I’ve relaunched the Drug Alliance Program. I also get to go to all the events, so my days are a lot of planning and laying out for those. 

 

Q: Tell us a bit about your background and how you use it in your role.

A: I started my career in sports marketing. A lot of it was customer service and event planning. I did fashion trade shows, which was a lot of planning and networking. From there, I went to The Journal, and that was great because I loved working with the local businesses. In Fair Haven, I’m the Business District Liaison for council; I’ve definitely used a lot of my background for my roles.

 

Every council member is a liaison to various departments and committees. I happen to be the liaison for the business committee. We have a unique business district in Fair Haven, because it’s small geographically but has over one hundred businesses within it. I want to foster services residents would want and market the businesses that are here. I’d like to make the districts of Fair Haven cohesive.

 

The other committee I’m on is the Grants Committee. Fair Haven is a small town, so we need some money, especially with maintenance. I’m also on the Communications Committee. We’re always looking for better ways to reach our residents. We want to promote our businesses and events we have in town. 

 

Q: How does the job compare now as opposed to a year ago?

A: A lot of things happened in the last year, a lot of big projects I’m proud to be a part of. We’re building a new community center, and before I was even on the council, I helped to bring in $1,200,000 in federal funding. We’re building a new police department and new DPW. A lot of big projects. We acquired a property called 21 Fair Haven Road. It was acquired before I got on, but now we have to decide what we’re going to do with this property on the river. It’s been busy but interesting.

 

Q: What are your priorities as a councilwoman? What are you proudest of achieving?

A: I would like to have a coordinated plan for all of our natural resources and our water. I think that we need to understand how everything is connected – storm water management and maintenance of our natural areas. One of the projects that’s going through is a living shoreline. It’s been in the works for a while. They’re meant to more naturally preserve our shores and filter our chemicals from our water. We are also moving forward with repairing our bulkhead. I view everything through an environmental but fiscally responsible lens. I’m also proud of hiring a new borough administrator, Chris York. He’s great. We’ve also hired new police, which has been great.

 

Q: What has been the most memorable part of being a Councilwoman?

A: I think realizing the weight of representing the people of Fair Haven and collaborating with the other council members. Hearing from the residents on the topics that are important and getting to connect with new residents that I didn’t get to meet during the campaign. I’ve connected with a lot of new residents. Also, connecting with the business district and representing the borough. Every so often, it hits me. “I can do something really good for my neighbors.” Getting to make a difference is the number one thing.

 

Q: What goals are you looking forward to completing in 2025?

A: We are automating a lot of processes. I think that will be a great step forward, especially with permits and zoning. I want to facilitate making it easier for businesses to come into town. I want a focus on the business district and to also have a true environmental plan that will connect with surrounding towns, because we’re not in a bubble. Things happening to our town aren’t just happening to our town; they’re also happening to Little Silver, Rumson and Red Bank.

 

Q: Any advice for Monmouth County Residents who want to get involved in their local politics?

A: I would say, if you can, pay attention to the council meetings. If you can’t make it, we have them virtual, and they’re also taped. You can read the minutes or watch them after. They can reach out to me if they’re interested. If you’re not sure, and you do have an area that you’re passionate about, try to connect that way. We’re looking for volunteers. If you’re a history buff and love history, then join the history association. 

 

Running for office and being in office is a lot — but it’s also really fulfilling and really rewarding.

 

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