A Monmouth County borough has sworn in its new leader – a 93-year-old World War II veteran.

Vito Perillo assumed the role as mayor Tuesday evening in Tinton Falls. It is his first-ever elected office position.

“He wanted to do something good for his town, and I hope he can,” says Perillo’s daughter Lucille Marley.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Perillo’s friends, family, dignitaries and other supporters.

“I was a little jittery at first, but these people put me at ease along the way,” Perillo said, referring to the Tinton Falls Council.

Perillo hit the campaign trail hard last year, walking door-to-door to get his message out. He previously told News 12 New Jersey that he wore out two sets of shoes in the process.

Perillo defeated incumbent Mayor Gerald Turning by 300 votes.

Turning was disappointed by the defeat and questioned some of the language used in Perillo’s campaign flyers during the public comment portion of the ceremony.

“The campaign is over. Let’s get with the program,” Perillo said.

But despite that comments from the former mayor, Perillo says that he left his first council meeting feeling good. 

“Most important is your health. If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything,” he said.