Englishtown, NJ – Former mob enforcer John Alite has estimated that he shot between 30 and 40 people, beat about 100 people with a baseball bat, and murdered 7 people.
In a strange turn of events that can only happen in New Jersey, John Alite, a former Gambino crime family enforcer with a notorious past, has emerged victorious in the Republican primary for Englishtown Borough Council, securing 118 votes in an uncontested race.
Alite, alongside fellow candidates Janet Leonardis and Patsy Fierro, will run unopposed in the November general election, potentially putting him on a path to be the first convicted mafia killer elected to public office in New Jersey history.
Alite, 62, was appointed to the council in March by Mayor Daniel Francisco to fill a vacancy left by Kyle Jewusiak, who resigned.
The appointment sparked heated debate in the small Monmouth County borough of 2,300 residents, with some praising Alite’s transformation into a motivational speaker and anti-crime advocate, while others questioned the optics of elevating a man once tied to murders, extortion, and racketeering.
“This is a new chapter,” Alite told supporters outside Englishtown’s borough hall. “I’ve paid for my past, and now I’m here to serve this community, keep kids off the streets, and make our town better.”
Alite, who served 14 years in prison before cooperating with federal authorities in the 2008 racketeering trial against John “Junior” Gotti, has leaned heavily on his redemption narrative. His campaign focused on local issues like improving infrastructure, supporting law enforcement, and combating the fentanyl crisis—a cause personal to Alite, who lost his daughter to drug addiction.
The uncontested primary, marked by low voter turnout, reflects Alite’s and Fierro’s lack of challengers within the Republican Party, which dominates local politics in Englishtown.
With no Democratic opponents fielded, their election in November appears all but certain, barring any write-in campaigns or unforeseen independent challenges.
Mayor Francisco, who championed Alite’s appointment, hailed the primary results as a vote of confidence in second chances. “John’s a neighbor, a father, and a guy who’s shown he’s committed to this town,” Francisco said. “He’s not the man he was 20 years ago.”
Critics, however, remain uneasy. At a March council meeting, some residents voiced concerns about Alite’s criminal history, with one anonymous attendee calling it “a step too far” for Englishtown’s reputation.
Alite, undeterred, has embraced the scrutiny, framing his past as a cautionary tale to steer youth away from crime.
As Alite prepares for the general election, his candidacy raises broader questions about redemption, politics, and the boundaries of public trust. If elected, he aims to beautify Englishtown with cobblestone sidewalks and new businesses, drawing comparisons to nearby Princeton. Yet, for many, the image of a former mob enforcer debating potholes and zoning laws remains a jarring one.
For now, Alite’s path to the council seems clear, but whether Englishtown fully embraces its unconventional councilman remains to be seen.
The November election will determine if this small borough is ready to write a new chapter in its history—one led, improbably, by a man once known as “the Calculator” in the Gambino crime family.
