Gove Sworn In To Assembly Seat

TRENTON — DiAnne C. Gove was sworn-in to the state General Assembly Monday, filling the vacant 9th District seat left by Daniel M. Van Pelt.

County Republicans selected Gove to the position in August, shortly after Van Pelt resigned after his arrest on corruption charges, but she had to wait for the Legislature to reconvene after its summer and fall recess to be officially seated.

She was elected to a full term in November, and will be sworn-in for that term in January.

“As a member of the state Assembly, I will not forget my roots in public service as a small town mayor and commissioner,” Gove said in a statement. “I fully recognize that there is a lot to be done — and undone — in Trenton to begin the very difficult process of returning our state to economic prosperity.”

Gove, 58, is the sixth woman to represent Ocean County in the Assembly, but the first to represent the 9th District and now the only female elected official from the county above the municipal level.

In her statement, she focused on the need to make the state more attractive to businesses, close the state budget gap and provide better services to constituents.

“In all, I know serving in the Legislature over the next few years will be challenging given the mounting problems our state is faced with,” she said. “Regardless, I intend to approach my duties with a positive outlook knowing that there are corrective measures which can be taken by the state to improve the lives of residents.”