N.J. city appoints lifelong resident to fill vacant council seat

The Long Branch City Council has appointed Glen Rassas, a lifelong resident of the city, to fill the seat left vacant by the late Mary Jane Celli.
Celli, who passed away last month at the age of 90, served on the city council for three decades, according to city officials. Rassas, who was sworn in on Nov. 6, will serve out the remaining 18 months of Celli’s term.
A third-generation Long Branch resident, Rassas graduated from Long Branch High School in 1980 and earned his degree in pharmacy from Rutgers University in 1985. A registered pharmacist for 39 years, he currently works at local pharmacies.
Rassas has deep roots in the community and is an active member of Congregation Brothers of Israel. He is also well-known for his long involvement with the Ray Licata Memorial Long Branch Ocean Swim, a fundraising event he organized from 2005 to 2019.
The event, co-sponsored by the Long Branch Department of Recreation, raised over $100,000 to support swimmer safety at Long Branch beaches.
City Council President Mario Vieira expressed confidence in Rassas’ appointment.
“Glen will be a tremendous asset to our council, and we’re proud to have a lifelong resident bring his dedication and experience to the table,” Vieira said.
Rassas, for his part, shared his enthusiasm about his new role. “I’m excited to get started and to work with the mayor and council to continue serving the Long Branch community,” he said.
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Deion Johnson may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or X @DeionRJohhnson