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NJ Council on Local Mandates

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Council Members

(As of February 1, 2024)

The Chairman of the Council is Hon. John A. Sweeney, Florence (Appointed by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, term expires February 1, 2026), Assignment Judge of Burlington County from 2000 until his retirement in 2008. A graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law, Judge Sweeney previously served a term in the New Jersey General Assembly, was Chief Counsel to Governor Florio, and later Director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement. Appointed to the bench in 1992, Judge Sweeney served in the Family, Civil, and Criminal Divisions and General Equity Part in the Burlington Vicinage, before being selected as Assignment Judge. He is currently on the Board of Trustees of Virtua Health System and practices mediation and arbitration in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area with a Mount Holly law firm.

E-Mail: jsweeneylaw@comcast.net
Telephone: 609-864-1437

Other Council Members

David Fiore, Newton (Appointed by Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio, term expires February 1, 2026) Upon entering the workforce he started his career in the construction industry as an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 102 and was later elevated to a project management position with a large electrical contracting firm managing electrical construction projects in New Jersey. In 2000 he transitioned into a leadership position with IBEW Local 102 as a Business Representative and Treasurer of the organization. During his time with IBEW Local 102 he was appointed by the Morris County Freeholders Board to the Morris, Sussex, Warren Workforce Development Board on which he served for several years before stepping down and has been actively involved with municipal, county and state government in an effort to protect and grow the construction economy in NJ. He currently sits as a trustee on the Local 102 Pension, Surety and Welfare funds, committee member on the NJ Subcommittee of the Northeastern Apprenticeship and Training Program, heads up an Annual Local 102 Charity Event raising money for various local charitable organizations and presently works as the Assistant Business Manager and Treasurer of IBEW Local 102.

E-Mail: dfiore@ibewlocal102.org
Telephone: 201-563-4049

Vacant (Appointment by Speaker of the General Assembly Asm. Craig Coughlin, term expires February 1, 2026)

Nuno Afonso, Esq., Summit (Appointed by Senate President Nicholas Scutari, term expires February 1, 2026), A graduate of Pace Law School in 2003, Mr. Afonso previously served as a public defender for the city of Elizabeth New Jersey from August of 2008 until January 2019 and before that was a Public Defender to the City of Newark from January of 2007 until April of 2008. He first opened his own law practice in May of 2006, and continues as a partner at Afonso & Afonso, LLC., to the present day specializing in personal injury matters. He is fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese, which helps him stay directly connected to his clients and his community.

E-Mail: AfonsoLaw@gmail.com
Telephone: 908-354-9094

Victor R. McDonald, III, Hamilton (Appointed by Senate Minority Leader Anthony M. Bucco, term expires February 1, 2026), is the person who conceived of the Council on Local Mandates as the mechanism for enforcing state mandate - state pay; micromanaged drafting the State Mandate - State pay constitutional amendment and the enabling legislation creating the council; and shepherded both through the Senate. He initiated the first mass elimination of unfunded state mandates through the enactment of the bipartisan "Omnibus State Mandate Relief Act" (P.L. 1995, c.259). During his 31 years of service with the New Jersey Legislature, Mr. McDonald worked extensively on local government issues. He was elected to the Hamilton Township (Mercer County) Charter Study Commission (1973-74). Mr. McDonald has both a B.A. in political science and M.A. in public administration from Rider College.

E-Mail: vrm3vrm3@gmail.com
Telephone: 609-587-6598

Mary Pat Angelini, Wall (Appointed by Governor Phil Murphy, term expires February 1, 2027), has been a leading advocate for mental health and addiction issues in NJ during her storied career. A former NJ legislator, she recently retired as CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group (PBHG), a non-profit behavioral healthcare organization with a budget of $30 million. PBHG has been the recipient of many awards under her leadership. She recently joined Mercury Public Affairs' Advisory Board. While serving in the NJ General Assembly from 2008 to 2016 as Deputy Conference Leader, Ms. Angelini sponsored numerous legislative initiatives to help NJ families. As Ranking Member of the Health and Senior Services Committee, she crafted legislation to improve the conditions at state psychiatric hospitals and was the prime sponsor of the "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights". In addition, she fought for strict ethics reform and stronger regulations for childcare centers. Mary Pat has received numerous honors and awards over her professional career and is also a recognized leader in New Jersey's business community, receiving the 2021 "Executive of the Year" award from NJBIA and named among the "Best 50 Women in Business" by NJBIZ in 2019. She serves as Vice Chair of the 200 Club of Monmouth County and sits on the Brookdale Community College Board of Trustees, the Jersey Shore Partnership's Executive Board and the College Achieve of Asbury Park Board of Education. She and her husband, Robert, live in Wall Township.

E-Mail: MaryPat.Angelini@gmail.com
Telephone: 908-309-5395

Nancy Brown, Belvidere (Appointed by Governor Phil Murphy, term expires February 1, 2027), A graduate of County College of Morris and Centenary College with degrees in Business Administration, her career focused on working with two NJ members of the General Assembly, in bank management, and various business related positions before retiring in 2013. Ms. Brown previously served as a member of Common Council, Hackettstown for 12 ½ years from 1995 to 2007. She has served in various community leadership roles such as President of the Hackettstown Area Chamber of Commerce, Hackettstown Hospital Foundation and the Warren County Community College Foundation. Currently, she serves as a member of the Warren County Community College Board of Trustees, as a leader with several church and other community NGOS organizations.

E-Mail: NancyBrown0804@gmail.com
Telephone: 908-246-1819

Robert R. Pacicco, Leonia (Appointed by Governor Phil Murphy, term expires February 1, 2027), is married to Katherine for 43 years, and has three children, Danielle, Rob & Stephen. He is a Fourth Degree Knight with St. John's Parish in Leonia. He is President of Pacicco & Company, and Claudelle, LLC. Elected Councilman, Mayor & School Board Trustee in the Borough of Leonia. Served on The Bergen County Charter Study Commission, and elected to the Board of NJ League of Municipalities. Recognized for his work establishing the MS Comprehensive Care Center at Holy Name Hospital. Cited by the National Association of the Physically Handicapped as an Honorary Member for his work in establishing New Horizons in Bergen County. For his many years of support, he was made an Honorary Chief of the Leonia Volunteer Fire Department. He served on the Leonia Planning Board & Board of Adjustment for many years. Inducted into the State of New Jersey Elected Officials Hall of Fame (2010). Robert Pacicco served on the Bergen County New Bridge Medical Center Board, serving as an Officer & Trustee, and Former Chairman. BCNBMC is the fourth largest public hospital in the USA with over 1100 beds. He was recently appointed by the Mayor of Leonia to the Economic Development Committe (2016). Robert was educated at Boston College & St. Peter's University, graduating cum laude. He now looks with great enthusiasm towards this new appointment to the NJ State Council on Local Mandates. He is thankful for the bipartisan appointment process by the Governor in conjunction with the State Legislature.

E-Mail: Paciccocompany@aol.com
Telephone: 201-947-6689

Robert R. Salman, Esq., Marlboro (Appointed by Governor Phil Murphy, term expires February 1, 2027), served as Inspector General for the New Jersey Department of Transportation from January, 2002 to June, 2010. He also was an adjunct professor at Seton Hall Law School from 1995 to 1998 teaching a course in persuasive legal writing. Mr. Salman is also currently serving as a public arbitrator for FINRA. After graduating from Columbia College and Columbia Law School with honors Mr. Salman began his legal career as an associate at the law firm of Proskauer Rose. Next he served as an Assistant Corporation Council for the city of New York in the Appeals Bureau. Thereafter he spent 18 years at Phillips Nizer as a litigator, serving several years on the firms executive committee. Next Mr. Salman was a senior litigation partner at Reavis and McGrath and Carter, Ledyard and Milburn. After these positions Bob founded his own law firm of Phillips & Salman. He then went back to the large law firm world as a senior litigation partner at Duane Morris until he joined the McGreevey administration.

E-Mail: rrsalman@aol.com
Telephone: 732-536-9078


Last Updated: Thursday, 02/15/24