Republicans Tsukamoto, Catalanello Running for Council

Madison Borough Council President Jeannie Tsukamoto and Rob Catalanello are the two Republicans who have submitted their petitions for councilmember posts to Borough Clerk Elizabeth Osborne for the June 8 primary election.

Two council terms are expiring, as the posts currently held by Tsukamoto and Democrat Astri Bailie are up at the end of the year. Baillie had previously announced she will not be running for what would be her fourth term.

Both Tsukamoto and Catalanello officially announced their intent to seek three-year terms in a release.

Tsukamoto, of Woodland Road, announced her intent to seek re-election for a second three-year term. She began her second straight year as council president in January.

"As our community and nation face difficult economic times, I have consistently worked with the governing body to rein in operating expenses, find cost-effective solutions to municipal services, and advance fiscally-conservative policies that benefit the people of Madison," Tsukamoto said in the release.

Also of Woodland Road, Catalanello is a Managing Director of Credit Agricole CIB in New York City. He and his wife, Brenda, have lived in Madison with their three children since 1997.

"The health and vitality of our community is important to me–both as a resident and as a parent."  Catalanello said in the release. "I ask for the opportunity to protect and improve the vibrancy of our community by working to bring real solutions to the challenges we face."

Catalanello represents his bank on the New York Federal Reserve Foreign Exchange Committee (FXC) and chairs the chief dealer working group and the risk management subcommittee for FXC. Prior to joining Credit Agricole CIB, he held senior management positions at Merrill Lynch and also held roles at Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. A graduate of Villanova University with a degree in electrical engineering, Catalanello also holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton Graduate School of Business.

Tsukamoto is an adjunct faculty member of business/management and mathematics at the College of St. Elizabeth, a Madison Rotarian, and a long-time American Red Cross Volunteer. She is also active in the Center for American Women and Politics of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University to empower and help women get involved in public service. She has been married to Andrew, a corporate maritime attorney for Maersk Inc. in Madison, for 22 years. They have lived in Madison with their daughter and son since 2000.

Robert D. McDowell of Knollwood Avenue was the lone Democrat to submit to Osborne. He has yet to release an official statement.

For the full Republican release, see this announcement.