Former Councilwoman Susan Poage and attorney Dio Tsitouras announced they were joining Mayor Angie Devanney’s ticket as Council candidates in this year’s municipal election.
Poage has lived in Berkeley Heights for the past 32 years and has raised her family here in town with her husband Russell. As a 20 year veteran teacher in town, her children are proud alumni of the Berkeley Heights School system. Poage was awarded the Presidential Award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching and honored at the White House in 2010. She is also a two-time recipient of the Teacher of the Year award in Berkeley Heights in 2016 and 2022. Elected to Council in 2017, Poage narrowly lost re-election in 2020.
In announcing her candidacy, Poage said, “One of the most rewarding aspects of serving as your Councilwoman was that it was a pure joy to be a part of shaping the future of our town. The opportunities I’ve had to connect with my neighbors and fellow residents about the real issues facing our town and the concerns we all share have been irreplaceable, and the experience forever changed me. After a close election in 2020, I never thought I would run again. However, Mayor Angie Devanney’s decision to run for re-election for Mayor was a major catalyst. As someone who has observed from the outside, but has also been in the “room where it happens,” I know first-hand how she has made this town a better place for all people and I wanted to be a part of continuing the progress made over the last 3 years.”
Dio Tsitouras rounds out the ticket. As an attorney, who lives in the Murray Hill section of Berkeley Heights with his wife, Glendy, Dio has advocated for people from all backgrounds, including immigrants, crime victims, and law enforcement officers, to name a few. Currently, Dio serves as the Executive Director of the American Association of University Professors – Biomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey, a labor union of 1500 faculty at Rutgers and Rowan Universities, who teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, scientists, and health professionals. Dio also serves as a Commissioner to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission and is a member of the Berkeley Heights Rotary Club.
“Under Mayor Angie Devanney’s leadership, Berkeley Heights has become more fiscally prudent, more welcoming and inclusive and remains one of New Jersey’s safest towns to live in. In the wake of the pandemic, I am eager to continue this progress and help make our town more affordable and ensure our community stays strong and thrives,” stated Dio Tsitouras.
Mayor Angie Devanney added, “Susan and Dio have a great deal of passion for Berkeley Heights. Susan’s record includes founding the Grants Committee, which has helped leverage additional monies into our town and as a member of the Planning Board has helped shape a plan for smart growth in economic development. Dio’s expertise in labor law and his understanding of what it was like to be on the front line during the pandemic will be a tremendous asset if elected to Council.”
“It’s important that locally we all work together in a manner that always put the needs of Berkeley Heights residents first. All too often we see extreme views create gridlock on the National scene. By continuing to use purple as our campaign color, it symbolizes our desire to unify rather than divide. It is the blending of ideas and thoughts from all, regardless of partisanship or heritage. In 2022, there is no better time for purple,” concluded Poage & Tsitouras.