Hudson County Freeholder Chairman Silverio “Sal” A. Vega’s “Annual Birthday Benefit” raised more than $10,350 this year for victims of the devastating Hurricane Katrina. A check for that amount was presented by Vega to the Salvation Army Katrina Relief Fund.
This year’s event was held at City Bistro in Hoboken, and some 150 contributors donated amounts ranging from $20 to $500 to the benefit.
The annual event is usually held, not really on Vega’s birthday, but in conjunction with the televising of a University of Tennessee football game. Vega is a former Memorial High School track star who won a scholarship to that university where he became one of the nation’s premier long distance runners. He has even run in the New York City Marathon where, one year, he placed 24th overall in a field of thousands.
“Last year we raised money for the Hudson County High Tech Scholarship Fund,” he said, “but there was no question as to which benefit we aimed our efforts towards this year.”
He added, “Our contributors come from a wide spectrum of friends, political associates and the business community, and we all have a good time getting together to watch the game, enjoy some refreshments and food, and raise money for a worthy cause. Hopefully, we won’t have to raise money for a disaster next year.”What the freeholders are
A freeholder is an elected county official; New Jersey is the only state that uses the term. Most other states elect a county commission or county council. The term “freeholder” is from colonial times, when only property owners, then known as freeholders, were entitled to vote.
The Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders is comprised of nine part-time paid representatives who get a salary and the use of a county car. They help oversee the county’s policy, budget, and buildings. The freeholders also offer advice and consent regarding the actions of the county executive. The representatives serve three-year terms.