Former Clinton New Jersey councilmember Janice Kovach, who filed to run for mayor in the Town of Clinton on April 11, 2011, has announced that she will seek to fill the seat of mayor recently vacated by former Mayor Christine Schaumburg, who abruptly resigned on June 30, 2011.

Kovach, who is unopposed in today’s Democratic primary for mayor, says that her name will be one of three submitted by the Town of Clinton Democratic Committee to the Town Council within the next 15 days.  Council will then interview all three candidates and will likely vote the same day.  After the vote by Council, the individual selected will be sworn in as the interim mayor until the November elections.

Janice said, “I hope the Council will do what is right for the Town and put aside politics.  I am the candidate of choice for the Democrats in Clinton.  The interruption of Town business should be minimized at this important time.  If the interim mayor served longer than the five months till election,  it would be different, but to get someone up to speed only to have them out of office when the election is over creates more work for the town and should be avoided.”

Kovach, who served one term on Council until she was asked by former Governor Jon Corzine to serve in his administration, has been a resident since 2002.  However, she lived in Clinton as a child – graduating from Clinton Public School and North Hunterdon HS.

During her term on Council, Kovach secured $900,000 in grant money from the State to provide needed repairs to the historic Clinton falls.   Kovach was also appointed by former Governor Jim McGreevey to serve on the newly created Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council – where she served for six and a half years.  Additionally, Kovach worked with the State Dept. of Transportation on timed crossing lights, she worked with the State Council on Affordable Housing, and she served on the town planning board and historic commission.

When asked about leaving her Council position to run the NJ Division on Women, Kovach stated, “it was a difficult decision – however, when the Governor requests that you join his administration – it is not something that you say no to.  I love Clinton and I continued to stay involved in other ways while serving in Trenton.  I am committed to remaining in the Town of Clinton and raising my family here.  We call Clinton our home because there is such community here –we all know one another and help each other out.”

Janice and her husband Stephen have three children, Taylor a college student at St. John Fisher in Rochester, NY, Zachary a third grader and Hunter a second grader.  Both Janice and Steve are active in the children’s school and sports activities.