UPDATE (3:40PM): A statement “from the Desk of Freeholder Charles Tomaro” confirms that the Freeholder “broke his left femur on Dec. 26 when he made a misstep while carrying chairs down the basement stairs at relative’s home and tumbled onto a concrete floor.

“Tomaro underwent morethan five hours of reconstructive surgery on Dec. 27 at JFK Medical Center and was later transferred to the Johnson Rehabilitation Institute. He is expected to remain at that facility until Jan. 9, but he will require weeks of physical therapy at ­home or as an outpatient.”

EDISON, NJ—Middlesex County Freeholder Charles Tomaro had his leg broken “in three places,” last week, the result of a “severe accident,” according to Freeholder Director Ronald Rios.

Clerk of the Board Margaret Pemberton read a statement from Tomaro at the board’s annual “re-organization meeting,” held in the Performing Arts Center of Middlesex County College.

“I am at my second day of physical therapy after surgery required by a fall last week,” said the statement.

His absence at the January 2 meeting took some by surprise.

His running mate, Carol Barrett Belante, was the only newly-elected official sworn in.   Ronald Rios was also re-named Freeholder Director by his colleagues, and Barrett Bellante will return to the Deputy Director position.

Superior Court Judge Christopher Rafano, who was Freeholder Director prior to Rios, presided over the oaths of office. 

“The oath of office will be administered to me by Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey this evening,” said Tomaro’s statement.  “I look forward to resuming my regular schedule as soon as possible.”

“I’m confident that Charlie’s mishap will be only a temporary setback,” Lankey said. “Charlie Tomaro is one of the hardest working public officials and most physically active people I know. He will rebound and come back even stronger.”

The 61-year-old Tomaro is a former Edison Councilman, and has been on the Freeholder Board since 2011.  He is coming off a victory in the November elections, one that would keep him on the seven-member Freeholder Board, which controls the county government, for another three years.

Even though he was unable to be at the grandiose swearing-in ceremony, and subsequent reception hosted by the Middlesex County Democratic Organization, Tomaro still was able to lighten the mood with his words.

“I am overwhelmed at the number of get-well wishes I have received and love and support of my wife Maria, children, family, and friends who have made this difficult time more bearable,” read the statement.

“It would also have helped if the Giants won this week, but as we all know, that didn’t happen,” said the statement, which garnered a laugh from the crowd.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.