Fisher appointed to fill vacant council seat Councilwoman will run for unexpired term in November BY LAYLI WHYTE Staff Writer EATONTOWN - - Kristine Fisher has been appointed to fill the vacant seat on the Borough Council that was left open by the Feb. 11 death of Councilman Joseph Questore. Fisher has been a member of the borough Planning Board for three years. She also has served as a member of the Downtown Redevelopment and Husky Brook Park ad hoc committees. "I'm interested in local politics," she said. "I'm just a curious type of person. Once a position was available, I knew it was something I wanted. I just wish it was under better circumstances." Fisher, a pharmacist and the mother of four children, including one set of 7-year-old twin boys, said that she knew Questore, and they shared many of the same ideals. "His son was in a lot of rec sports and summer camps with my kids," Fisher said of her predecessor. "He and I were both really interested in youth programs. I will try to do a good job and follow the path he was laying out." Questore died last month after a long battle with cancer, leaving behind his wife Cheryl, daughter, Olivia, 13, and son Aiden, 6. Fisher said that despite the sad circumstances surrounding her joining the council, she is excited to begin serving the community in a new way, even if that means giving up some things. "I'll probably have to give up the planning board," she said, "because I do have young kids, and to be out every night of the week at meetings is not fair to my family." Fisher has lived in the borough for 10 years with her husband David, and has been an active member of the Eatontown Democratic Club for more than three years. "I grew up in a small town in New England," she said, "and I get that same small-town feeling in Eatontown, too. My husband was born and raised in Eatontown, and he went through the schools here. Now our kids are in school here." Fisher was one of three candidates nominated to fill the vacant seat, but she was the only one who said she would be willing and able to run for re-election in November for the remaining two years of the unexpired term. Ben Caviglia, the first candidate to be interviewed by the council at its meeting last week, said that he ran for council unsuccessfully in 1980. "I am willing and able to serve if the council chooses me," he said during the interview, "but I will not be willing to run for re-election in November." Caviglia currently serves as a member of the borough Zoning Board and sewerage authority, and if the council had chosen him to fill the vacant seat, both of his seats would have had to be filled. Harvey Slovin, who ran for council previously and was party to the literal coin toss when he and Councilwoman Gerri Hopkins received the same number of votes during the 2002 election and, since they were both Democrats, it was decided to toss a coin, was also interviewed for the seat. "I am flattered by being considered to fill the seat," he said. "I have lived in town for 40 years, and have been on the Planning Board for 25 years, most of that time as chairman." Slovin said that he is retired and that he and his wife enjoy traveling. "We do love to travel," he said, "and see our grandkids and see the world. I'll be 70 years old by the end of the year, and the window of opportunity to travel while we're still in good health is getting smaller. I am flattered, and if I am selected I can't decline, but I would recommend that the mayor and council select one of the two other candidates." Slovin said that he would not run for election because he and his wife have a trip planned for the campaign season this year. The mayor and council adjourned briefly into closed session to discuss the candidates, and when they returned, they voted unanimously in favor of appointing Fisher, who was then sworn into office with her four children holding the Bible for her as she took the oath of office.