By CHRISTIAN MANAHAN
Staff Writer

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – Freeholder Frank Giordano has changed his political affiliation.

Giordano, who holds an at-large seat on the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, announced Friday, March 7 that he was joining the Republican Party.  The move gives Republicans a 7-2 majority on the board.

Freeholders Charles Garrett and Alisa Cooper are the only remaining Democrats on the board, while James Curcio, Richard Dase, Joseph McDevitt, Frank Sutton, Joseph Silipena, Thomas Russo, and now Giordano are in the majority.

He said the switch not only allows him to be in a party that aligns more with his views, it is also as a result of a falling out he had with local Democrats.

“Some of my views are conservative, and the Republican Party has a reputation for having a conservative view,” Giordano said. “I just go where I am welcomed. I feel more at home now.”

Despite the fallout, he insists there are “great” Democrats in the area, referencing his friendship with Atlantic County Sheriff Jim McGettigan, a Democrat, and a good working relationship with Cooper.

Giordano said he is also considering running for higher office, but for now is content with serving as a freeholder. His term is set to expire at the end of this year.

“If things go well I wouldn’t mind going to the next level,” he said. “I wouldn’t do it unless there is a blessing from the people.”
Before successfully running for the at-large freeholder seat in the 2006 general election, Giordano served on Township Committee for seven years, which included stints as mayor and deputy mayor.

Giordano of Mays Landing is a graduate of Oakcrest High School and is currently the vice president of Cousin Mario’s, Inc.
He and his wife, Fran have been married for 26 years. They have two children, Eryn and Joe.

Nearly a month before Giordano joined the GOP Hamilton Township Deputy Mayor Nelson Gaskill switched his political affiliation as well by joining the Republican Party.

Similar to Giordano’s reasoning, Gaskill’s reason for switching parties was he felt that his voice was not being heard by the local Democratic leadership.

“They left me, I didn’t leave them,” Gaskill said at the time. “The local leadership has abandoned the people. They have become a very exclusive group. What message does that send to me? They wanted me to go along with everything they did without even asking me for input.”