Meet the Candidates for 3 Avalon Council Seats
The Borough of Avalon will hold a municipal election on May 11 to fill three Borough Council seats, each for a four-year term. Two of the vacancies will be created when Dr. Nancy Hudanich and James Deever step down at the end of June. Hudanich will retire after 32 years on council, having served as president and a member of the Finance Committee. Deever, also a longtime member, will be leaving to devote more time to his family and his businesses, the Avalon Market and 29th Street Deli.
Team Avalon announced its candidates Feb. 18: current council president John McCorristin, and newcomers Jamie McDermott and Mari Coskey.
“I am very grateful for the tireless effort and dedication shown by Nancy and Jim and sincerely thank them for their commitment and contribution to Avalon and its residents and visitors,” says Avalon Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “I am confident that John, Jamie, and Mari will work hard for the betterment of Avalon, and continue to demonstrate their proven leadership to Avalon through their service. I encourage voters to support Team Avalon 2021 on May 11.”
McCorristin, an Avalon native, joined the council in 2013. In addition to his role as president, he sits on the Finance Committee, and is a board member of the 5 Star-rated Avalon Free Public Library. Among his many accomplishments during his time on council are the opening of Surfside Park and the 39th Street Playground area; maintaining Avalon’s beaches and continued back-pass projects; and the jetty restoration at Townsends Inlet. McCorristin has also worked to maintain the borough’s AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s, allowing for one of the lowest municipal tax rates in New Jersey; and to achieve a Class 3 flood rating from FEMA that resulted in 35% discounts on flood insurance for Avalon property owners. Moving forward, McCorristin plans to assist in the coordination of a complete renovation of the Bay Park Marina, which will include a handicap-accessible area, a diamondback terrapin nesting habitat, additional floodwater protection, and a park area. The owner of McCorristin Construction, he pledges to continue to work for the betterment of Avalon.
“I am incredibly fortunate to have been raised in this town and have the opportunity to raise my family and own a business here,” McCorristin says. “Avalon is a truly unique community and I look forward to running with Jamie and Mari on this ticket, and continuing to maintain the standard of stable leadership and dedication of Avalon’s governing body.”
McDermott began summering in Avalon in 1964 with his parents before purchasing a home here with his wife, Susan, in 1985. After many years spending weekends and summers raising their daughters in Avalon, the McDermotts became full-time residents in 2016. McDermott holds a law degree from the Widener University Delaware Law School and has served as an assistant district attorney for the City of Philadelphia and executive director of the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority. As chairman of the Avalon Planning and Zoning Board, McDermott has helped to manage development and land-use issues for the borough. Also, he is an active member of the Avalon Lions Club and the Avalon Yacht Club.
“I enjoy working alongside the mayor, council, borough employees, businesses and the many volunteer organizations that maintain Avalon’s quality of life,” says McDermott. “I am pleased at what we have accomplished with the Planning and Zoning Board, and look forward to maintaining Avalon as the safe and welcoming community that I know and love.”
Coskey grew up spending her summers in Avalon along with her extended Heenan family, and became a permanent resident in 2014. She and her husband, Michael, have two young children. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University, she earned a master’s degree in communication disorders from La Salle University. Currently, she is on track to complete a certification in applied educational neuroscience through Butler University. Coskey is employed with the Avalon Stone Harbor Schools as the coordinator for special education services. She also serves as the district’s speech-language pathologist. In those roles, she works one-on-one with students in every grade and coordinates with teachers and administration for the improvement of each student. In addition to her work in school, Coskey is a board member for the local nonprofit Friend In Need, which assists local families in need due to severe illness and financial strain.
“I have a long history in Avalon both as a vacationer and now a full-time resident, employee and mother of two, and I see how truly unique this community is,” Coskey says. “I want to be a part of shaping the town’s future growth while also making sure to preserve its unique beauty, and the valuable sense of community that makes Avalon so special.”
