Cerciello Taking his Approach to Borough Council

Sam Cerciello has spent much of his professional life building things.

He sees his new role with the Madison Borough Council in the same way.

"There are three kinds of people in this world: there are those who watch things happen, those who go through life not knowing how to make things happen, and there are those who make things happen," the newly sworn-in councilman said. "I'm one of those who makes things happen. I love putting things together."

Cerciello owns a contracting business that he runs with his son, Sebastian. It's one of a few hats Cerciello has worn while working, but it's one he's always been familiar with. Cerciello's father, Vincent, was a mason who was a member of Local Union No. 21 in Morristown.

When Cerciello graduated from Madison High School, his father brought the now 68-year-old life-long borough resident into the union, as well.

He was in the union for 10 years, but that would change on a day that many Americans remember vividly.

"Then I got drafted on the day they assassinated (John F.) Kennedy," Cerciello said.

Cerciello would be stationed in Kansas before being deployed to Vietnam. When he was shipped over, Cerciello had bout 90 days left on his term in the Army. On Dec. 2 1965, Cerciello was discharged from the service.

"I came back home and went into the union," Cerciello said. "Then, in 1971 a classmate of mine, named Phil DeBiase who lived in Madison also, we opened a tavern in Madison."

Cerciello and DeBiase named it the P.S. Pub, for Phil and Sam. Today residents would recognize the building that Cerciello built for the bar as Shanghai Jazz. Though he enjoyed his 19 years as a bar owner, Cerciello remained involved in mason work.

"In the meantime, I kept my hands in construction," he said. "I always loved laying brick."

It's not surprising that Cerciello would want to stay involved in multiple ventures after speaking with his wife, Gail.

"He's there for everybody," Gail Cerciello said. "I don't know how he finds time for everyone, but he does. Even with his business he takes pride in what he does. If he does a job for someone, he's going to do it 100 percent. He doesn't do patch work. I think he is the same way now that he is working with the town."

It was during his time with the P.S. Pub that Cerciello turned his eye more toward politics. His future political mentor actually came to talk to Cerciello while he was working at the bar.

"His name was Harold P. Higgs. He was a big businessman in town," Cerciello said. "I remember going to a (council) meeting – I was concerned about a certain issue about construction. When I went to the meeting I started talking to them about the construction part. By the time I knew it, they had me talking about diet soda. I lost my train of thought and I got frustrated."

It was after the meeting that Higgs helped change Cerciello's course of service to the borough. Higgs told Cerciello he knew what he was trying to say at the council meeting, but that the problem was he had lost his train of thought after others spoke back. Higgs suggested Cerciello take a Dale Carnegie course, which Cerciello did and says is the best decision he ever made.

Ever since, Cerciello has been involved with Madison government. He said it was about 35 years ago when he ran for a council seat for the first time. He lost by seven votes while running as an independent. Cerciello said that at that time people voted a lot more down party lines. A woman who Cerciello was friendly with actually told him that she would have voted for him, but she only voted for democrats.

Cerciello was also a write-in candidate for mayor two years ago. This November, Cerciello won selection to the b0rough council while running on the republican ticket for an unexpired term.

Cerciello still lives in the house his grandfather Sebastian built in 1938. He has two sons, Vincent and Sebastian. He lives in his house with wife Gail, who he has been married to for three years. They had actually gone on a date 40 years prior, as one of Cerciello's best friends was married to Gail's cousin.

"He's a man of honor – he'll tell you the truth," Gail Cerciello said of her husband. "A lot of people don't want to hear it, but he'll tell it to you, like it or not. He's upfront and honest about everything. That's how he is with the town and our relationships."

Creating things and seeing them through is what Cerciello has done in his contracting business, and what he says is his duty as a councilman.

"My father went to (religious) retreats every year," Cerciello said. "He got me a couple of plaques. One said, 'The key to success is having dreams, the key to happiness is making dreams come true.' We all have dreams, but you have to make them come true."