IRVINGTON, NJ — Mayor Tony Vauss hosted his first Mayor’s Ball on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Nanina’s In the Park restaurant in Belleville and, according to all involved, it was literally a “sold out” affair.
In fact, Vauss and his supporters said they had sold seating for 500 to 600 people in advance of the ball, so that meant it was standing-room-only for the more than 700; attendees included: state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman and East Orange Democratic Committee Chairman Leroy Jones, East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor, Orange Mayor Dwayne Warren and Hillside Mayor Angela Garretson.
“The fact that he had a ball with 700 people there on a Tuesday night, with tickets that were $300, shows that he knows how to establish relationships, not necessarily right here in Irvington, but everywhere,” Irvington Neighborhood Preservation Manager and Board of Education member Melody Scott said on Sunday, Oct. 11. “It just shows that we’ve got a dominant group here in Irvington and in the county and on the state level; he’s just been able to do that. And on top of that, it was his ball, but he shared the spotlight with ‘Squeak’ Maurice, the one that he gave the proclamation to. It was an incredible moment.”
Scott said Maurice “Squeak” Youmans is a manager in the Shade Tree division of the township’s Public Works Department; Vauss presented him with a proclamation from the Mayor’s Office at the event. Scott said, even though there were a number of elected officials, business leaders and others from throughout New Jersey who came to celebrate Vauss’ first Mayor’s Ball, the fact that Vauss chose that moment to recognize the achievements of a guy named “Squeak” shows why the mayor has been able to build bridges of support, cooperation and understanding since even being sworn into office last year.
“It doesn’t matter what time, day or night, the mayor can pick up the phone and call him when he needs something done,” Scott said, referring to Youmans. “He shared the spotlight with Squeak when — in front of all those people at the ball — no elected official spoke. Everybody that was running for governor didn’t speak; the only person that spoke was the mayor and Squeak. The mayor gave him a proclamation and brought him to tears. It was an incredible moment.”
Scott said she was talking to Vauss on Saturday, Oct. 10, and remarked to him, “Everybody can’t do that.”
“Some egos are way too big,” Scott added. “For a spotlight of 700 people there, to share it with somebody else and somebody else that nobody else knew was special. And he did it.”
North Ward Councilman David Lyons said those qualities are the reason he and his wife made it a point to come out to show their support for him. He said it was only the second time during his 19-year career as an elected official in Irvington that he has attended a Mayor’s Ball, let alone participate, as he did for Vauss, by acting as a presenter at the event.
“This is a great night for the mayor and a great night for Irvington and it shows that people appreciate what the mayor is doing and Irvington is progressing, regardless of what anybody is saying,” Lyons said Tuesday, Oct. 6. “Everybody came. We had all the elected officials and just a whole bunch of people that support the mayor. And it shows the kind of pull that he has and the support that he has and everybody wants to see Irvington grow.”
Lyons said Vauss has his support “all the way.” Police Det. Maurice Gattison, president of the Irvington Police Department’s Policeman’s Benevolent Association, agreed with Lyons that the ball was well worth attending.
“We’re celebrating his first Mayor’s Ball and I don’t have a problem with him. Every problem I had that I brought to him, we were able to negotiate and get it straight, no problem,” Gattison said Tuesday, Oct. 6. “This is actually my second ball in 20 years.”
Gattison said, based on his dealings with Vauss and his administration so far, he does not foresee any further issues. Vauss said that’s a good thing, because his goal is to create an environment in Irvington, where being appreciated for dedication, commitment and doing an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay is the norm.
Vauss said this is why he presented Youmans with a proclamation at his first Mayor’s Ball. He said, though Scott credited him for sharing the spotlight with another person, he really doesn’t think he did anything special or out of the ordinary.
“He’s hardworking and originally from Irvington,” Vauss said of Youmans on Monday, Oct. 12. “He gives back to Irvington every single day. No matter when I call him — day, nights or weekends — he’s always there to serve the residents. On that type of stage, with over 700 people attending the Mayor’s Ball, I saw it as fitting for everyone to see the hardworking individuals who really make things happen in Irvington each and every day.”