"There are a lot of people looking to keep Cranford moving forward so I would like to be a catalyst for that," then commissioner-elect Tom Hannen, a Belmont Avenue resident, told Patch in November after winning a seat on the township committee. At the Cranford Township reorganization meeting this month on Jan. 1, Commisioner Tom Hannen quickly became Mayor and was sworn-in, twice. First for his committee seat, then for his mayorship.

City and county government officials were in the audience, including, Cranford resident Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, Freeholder Al Mirabella, as well as officials from Cranford's fire and police force.

Hannen's family joined him while he took his oath, including his wife Cynthia, his sons Tom and Dan, daughters Erin and Katy and his mother and father. His father, sitting in a wheelchair, held the Bible, while Judge Fred Kessler gave him the oath of office. Hannen, was formerly the Mayor of Winfield, and he thanked his family for giving him the time to run for Cranford office. 

Among the focus points of this "challenging year" according to Hannen, comissioners will consider a list of things in 2013, according to a speech he gave at the close of the meeting:

• Review files on the Birchwood case to ensure plans for an appeal.
• Further the town's commitment to "core services" including police, fire, EMS, and sanitary waste removal.
• Improve the city's website and integrate using Twitter and Facebook to enhance communication between the government and residents.
• Enhance Cranford's low-power AM radio station to help in communication during emergencies.

With Hannen taking the reigns as head of the township committee, it signals yet another flip of partisan control of Cranford's governing body, this time with a majority of Democrats in the committee. However, in his speech at the reorganization meeting, Hannen said that it was time for the community to come together despite party differences.  Still, the majority was a significant achievement of township Dems as expressed on their website (http://cranforddems.com/):

A new Democratic majority has been sworn in on the Township Committee with a pledge to serve Cranford residents better. Mayor Tom Hannen, Deputy Mayor Edward O’Malley and Commissioner Kevin Campbell will bring new energy to governing the Township.

Cranford Township Committee meetings are generally on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at the Municipal Building on Springfield Avenue. 

Here's a list of upcoming meetings:

Read more:

• Two Fighting for one Cranford Committee Seat
• Hannen Defeats Mease; Dems Regain Control of Committee
• Mayor Tom Hannen's Speech (Audio/Text)