By Allison Perrine
MIDDLETOWN – What would you do if you could be mayor for a day?
If you’re Fairview Elementary School second-grader Charlie Day, your first order of business would be to “cancel school.”
As part of Middletown’s annual Mayor for the Day program, a few lucky students got to serve as “little mayors” of the township May 21. This year, Charlie was one of four to hold the title, along with Paige Vuksanovich from Middletown Village, Salvatore Fiore from Nut Swamp and Ayden Wiedman from New Monmouth elementary schools.
“We were so excited because my son is so into all the presidents. He wants to be president one day. He was so super excited for it,” said Maria Fiore, Salvatore’s mom.
The program is held each May for all district elementary schools. Members of school district PTO/PTA groups reach out to the mayor’s office and receive Mayor of the Day raffle baskets for school fundraisers. The children of the basket winner get to be the little mayors for the day.
“When I went to put my ticket into the Mayor of the Day basket, there was another mother whose daughter had won it the year before and she said ‘Oh my God, if your daughter wins this she’ll have the best time. They really make it super special for her,’ ” said Paige’s mother, Brandi Vuksanovich. “Low and behold, I won it.”
Traditionally, children are sworn in at town hall and take the oath of office. They spend time with the mayor and members of the township committee, participate in a committee meeting and receive certificates and copies of their oaths. They are even recognized in school that day as mayor.
But this year’s program was particularly special. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the township had to redesign the program. Perry made special appearances at each child’s home to celebrate with them, gifting them pins, certificates and goody bags. The children decorated their driveways and made posters, giving the scene special touches that would not otherwise happen in a committee meeting.
“I was outside with my family and my neighbors came over and we waited for the mayor to come,” said third-grader Paige when describing what the day was like for her. She said she was “very excited” when she found out that she would soon be a little mayor of Middletown.
Once he arrived, Perry administered the oath of office and each child was sworn in to their 24-hour terms. Then, each little mayor signed a proclamation dedicating the upcoming Monday, May 25, as Memorial Day in Middletown. That was three of the four’s first order of business – aside from Charlie.
“I think it (canceling school) was a little out of his constitutional purview,” Perry joked.
First responders from the police and fire departments made appearances as well, sounding their sirens and parading from home to home with Perry. The little mayors later noted their excitement about it.
“In my head, I was thinking, how do they fit all the engines?” Charlie said when talking about how many trucks drove down his street. He also had a drive-by visit from his principal at Fairview Elementary School, Michael Melando.
“The fire trucks came. The police came. The mayor gave me the pin and I signed everything,” said Salvatore. The first-grader said he was “so happy” to find out he was a winner, and that his wish as mayor was for people to “go out and have fun and enjoy the weather.”
Perry said that he’s not sure if the program will revert to an indoor activity at town hall or if it will remain outdoors at different homes in the future. He does know, however, that this year’s program was a huge success.
“The kids during a township committee meeting, they’re scared. They don’t really know what’s going on. But when they’re surrounded by their parents and their loved ones, and their friends get to see them get sworn in, it’s a really fun, special moment that you’re hoping kind of inspires these kids to get involved in civics and in public life and public policy,” said Perry.
The article originally appeared in the June 4 – 10, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
