Somerset County Social Services Building ribbon cutting
Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh and Carole Kavanaugh (center) cut the ribbon dedicating the new Senator Walter J. Kavanaugh Social Services Building in Somerville. Joining them are members of the Kavanaugh family (back row). In the front row (from left) are Freeholders Patrick Scaglione and Mark Caliguire. Freeholder Deputy Director Peter Palmer and Sheriff Frank Provenzano are behind Carole Kavanaugh. (courtesy photo)
SOMERVILLE - Somerset County officials dedicated the new Senator Walter J. Kavanaugh Social Services Building at 73 E. High St. with a July 21 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Family, friends and elected officials gathered to remember the late senator.
Freeholder Director Patricia Walsh, Freeholder Deputy Director Peter Palmer and Freeholders Patrick Scaglione and Mark Caliguire were joined by the senator's widow, Carole Kavanaugh, as well as the couple's two daughters, grandchildren and other family members, according to a news release.
"Most of you here today knew Walter Kavanaugh in some capacity," Walsh said. "Those of you who did not know him personally have heard of his long career as a well-respected public servant."
She quoted the late U.S. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith as having said, "Public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation."
Walsh went on to say, "Walter Kavanaugh demonstrated that dedication throughout his career, as a citizen volunteer and as an elected official. It is our pleasure to dedicate this building in his memory."
Kavanaugh served in the New Jersey Senate from 1998 to 2008, where he represented the 16th Legislative District. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Kavanaugh served in the General Assembly from 1976 to 1997. With his 32 years of service in the New Jersey Legislature, Kavanaugh's tenure was among the longest in state history.
The late senator was a member of the Somerville First Aid and Rescue Squad. He served as an elected member of the Somerville Board of Education from 1962 to 1975 and was an appointed member of the Somerset County Park Commission from 1968 to 1975. He also served in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1976, earning the rank of lieutenant.
The Somerset County Board of Social Services, with offices in Somerville, Franklin and North Plainfield, administers public assistance programs, including SNAP benefits (food stamps), general assistance and Medicaid.
The agency handles over 15,000 Medicaid and Medicaid-related cases and almost 6,000 SNAP, welfare and general assistance cases. The agency also provides social services such as housing, case management, employment training, adult protective services and homemaker services, according to a news release.
The new three-story, 42,440-square-foot structure was built just west of the former social services building, which will be demolished and replaced by a parking area.