Wedding day jitters
not an issue for most mayors
Officials for,
against and undecided about new law
explain their views
BY JOHN WIHBEY, The
Star-Ledger (NJ.com) from the Web, February 5, 2007
Newark, Feb. 4 -- Over the
years, many mayors have embraced their role as officiates at the altar.
But with a landmark law going into effect Feb. 19 allowing civil unions for gay
couples, mayors will need to perform both kinds of ceremonies, or none at all,
to be in compliance with a ruling by the attorney general.
The following are the stated positions of mayors around the region who responded
to a Star-Ledger survey this past week. Some officials were not immediately
available for comment.
MORRIS COUNTY
Here are the mayors who will not perform civil unions:
Butler: Mayor Joseph Heywang (R) said he will no longer perform weddings
because of the new law. "I'm not doing any more (weddings) because if I do
that then I have to do civil unions. I don't believe civil unions are
marriages," he said.
Here are the mayors who do not, or will no longer, perform weddings:
Chatham Township: Mayor Kevin Tubbs (R) said he does not perform
marriages.
Denville: Mayor Gene Feyl (R), who recently became a county freeholder,
said he no longer has time to perform nuptials. "I have no professional or
personal opposition to a civil union."
Harding: Mayor Louis Lanzerotti (R) will not perform weddings.
"Independent of whether it's a civil union or marriage, I just don't think I can
provide the solemnity required for the ceremony."
Mine Hill: Mayor Richard Leary (D) will not be available for weddings or
civil unions, according to the township clerk. He has previously performed
weddings.
Parsippany: Mayor Michael Luther (D) said he does not do weddings for the
public, only for family members and close friends.
Riverdale: Mayor William Budesheim (R) said that, for religious
reasons, he has never performed weddings. He said he's Catholic, and
Catholics are supposed to be married in the church.
Here are the mayors who are undecided:
Boonton Township: Mayor Doug Spender (R) said he had done six or seven
weddings in the five terms he has served as mayor, but he hasn't decided whether
to continue or to perform civil unions.
Victory Gardens: Mayor Betty Simmons (R) said she has not made a final
decision on whether to perform weddings of any kind. "I have nothing
against gay couples in a civil union," she said. "I haven't crossed that
bridge yet. If someone approached me I might well do it."
Here are the mayors who will perform civil unions:
Boonton: Mayor Cyril Wekilsky (R) said he has already received four calls
about doing civil unions this year, and scheduled one in late February.
Chatham Borough: Mayor Richard Plambeck (R) said, "It's just another
service that we provide."
Chester Township: Mayor Benjamin Spinelli (R) said, "It comes with the
duties of the office."
Dover: Mayor James Dodd (D) will perform civil unions and marriages only
for town residents.
East Hanover: Mayor William Agnellino (R).
Hanover: Mayor Ronald Francioli (R) said, "There's no question in my mind
as a practicing Catholic, I believe the true marriage is a religious bond," he
said. "On the other hand, this is ... a contract arrangement the state
recognizes. I don't think we have any options but to comply."
Jefferson: Mayor Russ Felter (R), "It's not my lifestyle, but I'm not
going to judge somebody because of their lifestyle."
Lincoln Park: Mayor David Runfeldt (R)
Long Hill: Mayor George Vitureira (R), "It's not only legally required, I
agree with the Supreme Court case that came down that this is required by legal
protection clause."
Mendham Borough: Mayor Neil Henry (R).
Mendham Township: Mayor Phyllis Florek (R) will perform civil unions but
she said, "If it were not a law, it's not something I'd be comfortable doing."
Montville: Mayor Art Daughtry (R)
Morris Plains: Mayor Frank Dreutzler (R)
Morris Township: Mayor Robert Nace (R)
Morristown: Mayor Donald Cresitello (D) said, "I would have done the
(civil union) weddings even without the ruling."
Mount Arlington: Mayor Arthur Ondish (R) said he will perform civil
unions, though he doesn't like the law itself. "I don't like being told
what I can and cannot do."
Mount Olive: Mayor David Scapicchio (R) said he is scheduled to perform a
civil union for two women on March 3.
Mountain Lakes: Mayor George Jackson (R) said he's never done weddings
before, but he will probably perform them and do civil unions.
Pequannock: Mayor Jay Vanderhoff (R)
Randolph: Mayor Michael Obremski (R) said, "I don't necessarily agree with
the law. But the attorney general has ruled on it."
Rockaway Township: Mayor Lou Sceusi (R), who has performed more than 100
marriages, has decided he will perform marriages and civil unions only for
township residents, and people he knows personally. He said he would
"prefer not to do a civil union," but added, "I'm not going to deprive other
citizens of it because of my personal views."
Roxbury: Mayor John Ciaramella (R) said, "It's against my views of what a
marriage should be. But I see the need for a civil union."
Washington Township: Mayor Kevin Walsh will perform civil unions if asked
to do so, despite having personal qualms about it. "It comes with the
turf."
Wharton: Mayor William Chegwidden (R)
The mayors of Chester Borough, Florham Park, Madison, Kinnelon and Rockaway
Borough could not be reached. Netcong is currently without a mayor.
SUSSEX COUNTY
Here are the mayors who will not perform civil unions:
Andover Borough: Mayor Shirlee Bollard (D) said she would not perform
civil unions. She said performing weddings is "one of the parts of being
mayor that I really, really enjoy, but it (civil unions) goes against my
religious beliefs."
Here are the mayors who do not, or will no longer, perform weddings:
Andover Township: Mayor Tom Walsh (R) said he does not perform weddings
and that would not change. "I don't do weddings, they would make me feel
funny," he said, explaining he was brought up a Catholic and the Catholic Church
doesn't recognize weddings held outside the church. "I would do it under
certain circumstances, maybe for a close friend."
Hopatcong: Mayor Richard Hodson (R) said he has stopped doing weddings
because he is too busy.
Stillwater: Mayor Al Fuoco (R), who described himself as "very
conservative," said he would not perform civil unions. "I would not do a
civil union. I believe, by law, I am allowed to perform marriages, and I
believe a marriage is between a man and a woman," he said.
Walpack: Mayor Raymond Fuller (R), who has performed only two marriages
over the past 35 years, said he will no longer perform nuptials. "I won't
do any marriages," Fuller said. "I'm not religiously opposed (to civil
unions), I'm just opposed."
Here are the mayors who are undecided:
Byram: Mayor Eskil "Skip" Danielson (nonpartisan) said he has not yet
seen the attorney general's opinion, but will heed the advice of the township
attorney.
Hampton Township: Mayor Philip Yetter (R), who is undecided, said, "I
don't know if it's going to come about. Everything's up in the air and I
have to see how it comes out."
Lafayette: Mayor Gregory Corcoran (R), who is undecided whether to
perform civil unions, said: "I have the option not to (perform a civil union),
if I choose. I would have to review the law" first.
Montague: Mayor Mark Utter (R) said he is undecided. Before he
makes his decision, he wants his registrar to gather more information about how
to process paperwork for civil unions and to monitor any further legislative
action.
Sparta: Mayor Manny Goldberg (Nonpartisan) said he is undecided. "I
hate to be on the fence, but I'm really in the middle on that one," he said.
Here are the mayors who will perform civil unions:
Fredon: Mayor John Richardson (R) said, "It's part of the job. You
just do it."
Green: Mayor Roger Michaud (R) said: "I wouldn't want to give it
(performing weddings) up. I'm not going to get overwhelmed with these
(civil-union) requests. Who you are is who you are. If that's their
lifestyle, that's their choice."
Newton: Mayor Kevin Elvidge (nonpartisan), "Without a doubt, I would do
it," he said. "The state dictates it. It's not my place to determine
whether someone wants to be legally tied to someone or not. I'll be happy
to do it."
Ogdensburg: Mayor Jim Sekelsky (D) said, "I took an oath (of office to
uphold the law) and I fully intend to support my oath."
Sussex Borough: Mayor Katherine Little (D) said, "I might not agree with
it, but if courts say I have to do it, I would."
Vernon: Mayor Janet Morrison (R) will perform civil unions because she
does not want to have to stop performing marriages. "I would not step away
from doing marriages."
Wantage: Mayor William DeBoer (R) said, "I would probably tend to do it,
because it's part of the job."
The mayors of Branchville, Frankford, Franklin Borough, Hamburg, Hardyston,
Sandyston and Stanhope could not be reached for comment
WARREN
Here are the mayors who will not perform civil unions:
Allamuchy Township: Mayor Robert J. Resker (R) said he does not perform
weddings.
Blairstown: Mayor Stephen J. Lance (R) said that because of the ruling,
he will no longer perform weddings for the general public. "I'm an
ordained Presbyterian elder, and I think it's wrong."
Here are the mayors who do not, or will no longer, perform weddings:
Hackettstown: Mayor Michael Lavery (R) doesn't perform many ceremonies
due to time constraints. "But I would do them," he said of civil unions.
"It's the law of the State of New Jersey."
Washington Township: Mayor John A. Horensky (R) said he doesn't perform
weddings due to time constraints.
Here are the mayors who are undecided:
Frelinghuysen Township: Mayor Thomas K. Charles (R) is undecided, saying
"it would depend on the particulars."
Harmony Township: Mayor Brian Tipton (R) said he is undecided, noting
that he is new to the job and needs some more information.
Here are the mayors who will perform civil unions:
Alpha: Mayor Harry Zikas Jr. (D), "I took an oath to follow the laws of
the state, and I intend to follow through."
Belvidere: Mayor Charles J. Liegel Sr. (D) said: "You could not do
weddings at all. But if you are going to do one, you have to do the
others."
Franklin Township: Mayor Bonnie Butler (R) said, "Yes, I'd be happy to do
weddings for anyone."
Hope Township: Mayor Timothy C. McDonough (I).
Independence Township: Mayor Robert Giordano (R) said, "If that's the
law, that's the law."
Knowlton Township: Mayor Frank Van Horn (D) said, "I'll marry anybody,
any place, any time -- I've proved it," noting that he has performed weddings on
a cliff, on a school bus, in a hurricane and in front of a group dressed in Wild
West attire.
Liberty Township: Mayor John E. Inscho (R) said he has had one request to
perform a civil union and intends to perform civil unions.
Lopatcong Township: Mayor Douglas Steinhardt (R).
Phillipsburg: Mayor Harry L. Wyant Jr. (R) last month said he would
challenge having to do civil unions, but has relented. "I really don't
want to give up weddings," he said. "I think it's one of the nicest parts
of my job."
Washington Borough: Mayor Marianne Van Deursen (R)
The mayors of Greenwich, Hardwick, Mansfield, Oxford and White townships could
not be reached. Pohatcong Mayor Stephen Babinsky declined to comment.
Compiled by The Star-Ledger staff.
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