Bayonne runoff election: June 10, 2014

Jimmy Davis does some last minute campaigning with his campaign manager Joe deMarco, nephew Andrew Casais and son, James Davis before the polls close for Bayonne's run-off election on June 10, 2014 outside the fire station on 4th st. Alyssa Ki/The Jersey Journal

Andrew Casais, a nephew of the mayor, is one of the most influential people in Bayonne as the city's chief of staff. Casais is also the First Ward councilman for Roselle Park. Casais is shown here in a photo posed on the Roselle Park website.

A top position at city hall is now held by a 23-year-old relative of Mayor Jimmy Davis.

Andrew Casais, a nephew of the mayor, holds the influential position of chief of staff in Bayonne.

Jeff Meyer, a spokesman for the mayor's office, said Casais was hired for his "experience in municipal government as well as his education and his understanding of Mayor Davis' priorities to move Bayonne in the right direction."

Casais was appointed this month as Davis took over as mayor on July 2, according to Casais' LinkedIn page.

As chief of staff, Casais oversees the implementation of the mayor's agenda and schedule, and works "hand in hand" with the business administrator, department heads and council, Meyer said.

Casais did not immediately return a call for comment.

The chief of staff is a salaried position in the city, but Meyer was unable to provide Casais' annual salary.

Casais, who is related to Davis through Davis' first marriage and not a direct blood relative, also worked as a volunteer on the mayor's campaign that toppled the incumbent mayor Mark Smith and five sitting council members.

Meyer said that the mayor's extended family relation with Casais had no bearing on hiring him as his chief of staff.

"He was not a paid staffer on the campaign, he was a volunteer," Meyer said. "And I think that if we set the standard of people who volunteer on campaigns can now be prohibited from having an opportunity to work for municipal government, I think that is a very dangerous standard to set."

While Casais is in his early 20s, he already has a history in local government.

At only 18, Casais spent his nights attending Roselle Park council meetings while serving as the chair of the Concerned Citizens of Roselle Park. In addition, he successfully worked to elect two council members in Roselle Park.

Casais, who graduated from Seton Hall University, became the youngest elected official in Union County in 2012 when he was sworn in as the First Ward councilman for Roselle Park at age 20.

The young Republican councilman now serves as the chair of the borough's finance and administration committee, among others, according to the borough website. His term expires at the end of 2014.

Joseph Accardi, mayor of Roselle Park, said Casais is young but "mature beyond his years."

Accardi recalled during Casais' campaign, the young politician was "spot on on the issues in town." The Roselle Park mayor added that Casais has been a "calming influence" on the council and a "voice of reason."

"Bayonne is lucky to have him on-board," Accardi said.

In addition, he is a registered municipal clerk and served as such for the Borough of Allendale for about eight months before he took the job as chief of staff in Bayonne, according to his LinkedIn page.

Meyer said Casais' experience was a boon for the city, and the mayor sees "no conflict between service in his professional capacity in Bayonne and serving as a basically volunteer elected official in Roselle Park."