IRVINGTON, NJ — Mayor Tony Vauss has presided over several firsts in township history since being sworn into office in 2014, including appointing Irvington’s first black fire chief, black fire director, black public safety director, and Haitian-American detective.
So it was only fitting that Vauss kicked off his second term in office by appointing the township’s first ever black female municipal court chief judge during his inauguration ceremony at Christian Pentecostal Church on Clinton Avenue on Sunday, July 1. The mayor made local history again before a crowd that included many prominent Democratic Party political powerhouses.
“I request that the Irvington Municipal Council consent to my selections for directors, but one pick is very important to me, and I want to break protocol and actually have her come forward,” said Vauss on Sunday, July 1. “I have just appointed Sandra Cole the new head municipal judge in the township of Irvington.”
Judge Cole seemed surprised that Vauss took time out of his inauguration script to shine the spotlight on her.
“I should have known he was going to do this,” Cole said Sunday, July 1. “I said, ‘I’ve never been a chief judge before. What do I do? Do I get up? Do I sit down?’ He said, ‘Nah, you just sit down and make sure that you have on your robe. No speeches, no anything.’”
Cole said she was both proud and humbled that Vauss had appointed her as Irvington’s new chief judge.
“It is such an honor and such a pleasure to be chosen for this position,” Cole said. “Things have been the same for quite some time, in terms of the court, the leadership, and I just want to say that Mayor Vauss passing the baton on to me and telling me that he has the full confidence, that I will do what needs to be done, in terms of the Irvington Municipal Court, in line with his vision and in line with the visions of the council and just making sure that justice is dispensed. It is such an honor and a privilege to have that responsibility.”
Cole said she was also both honored and humbled by Vauss’s faith in her leadership and management abilities.
“Mayor Vauss will tell you he has certain people picked for certain things, even if they think they’re not going to do it or they don’t necessarily want to do it, he’s going to tell you that you’re going to do it and that you’re going to be great at it,” said Cole. “And that’s what he did for me. I have to tell you, it’s the best job in the world and I am good at it. And I’m going to continue to be good at it.”
Vauss thanked Cole for proving him right by living up to his high expectations.
“Here in the township of Irvington, we empower our own and I want to make that clear to everyone,” said Vauss. “When you see something that most people don’t see in themselves, it’s the belief that gets them over the hump every day and I’m so proud of this young lady. She’s been a spectacular judge and she’s going to be a great chief judge.”
Vauss also said Cole’s appointment was in keeping with the Team Irvington Strong motto of “One Team One Dream.”
“If we all work together — the council, citizens, elected officials — we can turn our township around,” Vauss said. “I believe in this township. I believe in the vision of its people and I always tell people I don’t have an ulterior motive. I’m not looking to go down to Trenton or down to Washington. I just want to take care of my home, because my home is important to me. And if you can take care of your home, imagine what we can for this county, for this state and this country. So it’s important for us to not only be together, but to stay together.”
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