I moved to Kearny in 1996. I married my Brazilian born wife Nelia in 1998 and moved to the 2nd ward. We purchased our home in 2001 in the 2nd ward where we now live with our two sons Jacob and Joshua. I also have another son, Richard “Junior” from a prior marriage.

I graduated from Essex Catholic High School in 1980. I graduated from RETS Electronic School in 1982 with a certificate in Applied Electronic Technology. I also attended Hudson County Schools of Technology and Union County Vocational-Technical School.

I am employed at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission for the past 32 years. I started in 1981 as a helper and now hold the position of Supervisor of Instrumentation and Electrical Technicians. I served on the Zoning Board of Adjustments for 13 years and was the Chairman the last 2 years. I am a member of the Franklin School PTA.

I volunteer my time by coaching varies sports for the Kearny Recreation Department. I enjoy spending time with my family especially when we vacation in Brazil.

I am the Chairman of the Lighting Committee and Beautification Committee and also sit on the Water and Transportation Committees. I am the council liaison to the Board of Health.

Councilman Peter Santana is a naturalized citizen who was born in Brazil. He resides in Kearny where his family has deep roots in the Kearny-West Hudson area. Mr. Santana graduated from the Faculdade Rui Barbosa College in Brazil, where he achieved his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. He has also completed a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Peter’s University.

Councilman Santana married his wife Renata in 2013. He currently works for the Harrison Board of Education as a Director of Instructional Data Management Services, as well as for the Hudson County Schools of Technology as the Director of the Adult High School night school program at the Harrison Center. He was appointed in February 2017 to fill a vacancy on Kearny’s Town Council representing the 2nd Ward.

Councilman Santana has served as a member of the Blue Ribbon Committee which resulted in the U.S. Secretary of Education recognizing Harrison High School as one of the 286 National Blue Ribbon Schools for the year 2013. Mr. Santana also volunteers for many civic and school activities; most notable is his participation in Harrison Education Foundation’s annual Golf Outing Fundraiser that provides scholarships to graduating seniors.

A homeowner on Davis Avenue in Kearny’s 2nd Ward, Mr. Santana is committed to doing everything possible to keep Kearny’s status as a great place to live and work.

Third Ward Council Member Carol Jean Doyle has lived in Kearny over 50 years and has served on the Council for 20 years. She presently serves as Council President, as Chairperson of the Finance Committee and a member of the Department of Public Works Committee. She is also the Council Liaison for Senior Citizens, the United Veterans Organizations and the Kearny Museum.

Carol Jean Doyle is a member of the Kearny Municipal Utilities Authority, a 35 year member of the Kearny Safety Council and a 34 year member of the Kearny Municipal Alliance. She previously served as a Recreation Commissioner for 5 years.

She is one of the founding members of the Kearny Domestic Violence Task Force and Neighborhood Watch Program. Presently she is First Vice President and a Board member of Pathways to Independence. She is a founding member of West Hudson Arts and Theater and a member Friends of Erin, Friends of the Kearny Public Library, Project Graduation and a member of EADD, Education Awareness on Drug Dependency.

Carol Jean has served as past president of The Woman’s Club of Arlington, American Legion Auxiliary Unit #99, Kearny Optimist Club and Hudson County American Cancer Society.

She serves as chair for the Annual Passaic River Clean-Up, Senior Citizen Picnic, Memorial Day Parade and the Town Holiday Giving Tree.

Councilwoman Doyle has been recognized with New Jersey Clean Communities Award, Passaic River Coalition Award, Jersey Journal Woman of Achievement, VFW 3rd District Award for Outstanding Citizen, Salvation Army Outsanding Citizen Award, Citation for Service and Civic Endeavors from Hudson County, Christopher Columbus Outstanding Community Service, New Jersey Federation of Woman’s Club – State Honor Roll, Giblin Association – Devoted Public and Private Service Award, Honorary Irish Woman and Woman of the Year by Girl Scout Troop #2771.

Carol Jean Doyle was married to the late Norman A. Doyle, Jr.; they have two children Meghan and Norman III. She is the proud grandparent of Ryan and Kelsey.

Third Ward Councilwoman Eileen Eckel took her seat in January 2005. Mrs. Eckel has served as chair of the Fire Committee and has been the Fire Commissioner for 8 years. During her tenure she has been intricately involved with the revitalization of the KFD and is proud to see the Department reach its current staffing level. She is the Council Liaison to the Kearny Public Library where she provides communication between the Board of Trustees and the Town of Kearny. Mrs. Eckel sits on the Affordable Housing Board. She is a member of The Friends of the Kearny Public Library and most recently joined the Sesquicentennial Committee to work on the 150th celebration of the Town of Kearny.

Councilwoman Eckel is a middle school English teacher in Fairlawn. She is earned her Bachelor’s Degree at Montclair State University and has completed the Master’s Program in Educational Technology at Ramapo College. Councilwoman Eckel has 30 credits over her Master’s Degree in Education. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2013-14.

Eileen and her husband Tom are the proud parents of Brian and Tara. Both Brian and Tara attended Kearny Public Schools where Mrs. Eckel played an active role in the PTA. She was the President of Schuyler School PTA for 3 years. Mrs. Eckel was elected to the Kearny Board of Education in 2001 and served for 4 years on various committees including contract negotiations. She is a former member of the Kearny Zoning Board. She is a member of The Friends of Erin.

Councilwoman Eckel was named Hudson County Woman of the Year in 2016.

Council member 4th Ward Susan McCurrie has served as a Fourth Ward Council member since May 2004. She currently serves as chairs of both the ordinance committee and insurance committee, and sits on the finance, fire and senior citizens committees. Councilwoman McCurrie, since its inception 10 years ago, helped developed and manage the annual Kearny Farmers Market, a Jersey Fresh market. She also assisted with two key competitive applications which provide access to many environmental grants and development resources, those applications resulting in Kearny’s designation as a Sustainable Jersey community and the Passaic Avenue Redevelopment Zone as a NJDEP Brownfields Designation Area.

Born and raised in Kearny, Ms. McCurrie is a graduate of Kearny High School, Seton Hall University (B.A. English) and New Jersey Law School. She is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York. After law school, she clerked for the Hon. John A. McLaughlin in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Hudson County and was an attorney for the New York City Human Resources Administration, Estate/Medicaid division. She was also special counsel to the town for the senior housing project on Schuyler Avenue and attorney for the Kearny Enterprise Zone Development Corporation. She has been a member of the McCurrie McCurrie & McCurrie law firm, having practiced with her father Paul and her brother Stephen. She currently works as an Assistant County Counsel with the County of Hudson.

Ms. McCurrie has been an active member of many service, social and professional organizations including: Commissioner on the KUEZ Board, the Kearny Friends of Erin, the West Hudson Bar Association, the West Hudson Kiwanis Club, and the Arlington Player’s Club.

Fourth Ward Councilman Gerald Ficeto is a lifelong resident of Kearny and a product of the Kearny Public Schools. After graduating from Kearny High School, Mr. Ficeto attended Montclair State College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and a Teacher’s Certification for the State of New Jersey. He attended New Jersey City University where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Music Education with a concentration in conducting.

Mr. Ficeto taught in the Kearny School district for 25 ½ years until his retirement. Presently he is the Director of Bands and Small Ensembles at Stevens Institute of Technology where he has been an Artist in Residence since 2004 and serves as the Stevens Archery Coach.

Mr. Ficeto is a founding member of and volunteers his time regularly at West Hudson Arts & Theater Co., a non-profit arts organization in Kearny. When his children were of age, he volunteered coaching basketball and softball with the Kearny Recreation programs and was the volunteer director of the Pioneer Boys of America Drum and Bugle Corp.

Among his many professional associations, he is a Life-Member of the New Jersey Congress of Parents and Teachers; the New Jersey Education Association and ASCAP. Mr. Ficeto has been married forty years and is the father of two daughters.