Sandusky to run for township mayor

Council veteran will run on Republican ticket.

By:Vanessa S. Holt
   FLORENCE — A 22-year veteran of the Township Council announced this week he plans to run for mayor this fall on the Republican ticket.
   Councilman Jerry Sandusky, 52, represents the Third Ward, which includes downtown Florence.
   He has served on the council a total of 22 years as councilman-at-large and in his current position in the Third Ward.
   He also has served on the Florence Township Board of Education.
   "I have always tried to put the people of Florence Township ahead of all else," said Mr. Sandusky. "We have a great town with a lot of character."
   Mayor Michael Muchowski’s four-year term expires at the end of this year. Two at-large Township Council seats will be available this year, as the four-year terms of John Fratinardo and John Hofflinger also are set to expire.
   Mr. Muchowski, a Democrat, is on vacation this week and could not be reached for comment on whether he would run for mayor again this year.
   Mr. Sandusky said he decided to run because he felt the time was right and the opportunity was there.
   He previously ran for mayor and was defeated by Bruce Benedetti 15 years ago.
   "There are a lot of issues in the town that we need to get together on," he said.
   Township Clerk Joy Weiler said the deadline to file applications to run for local office is April 7. No applications have been officially filed yet, she said.
   Mr. Sandusky said he plans to officially announce his candidacy tonight at 7 p.m. at the Willits-Hogan-Tonne American Legion Post 39 in Roebling.
   His term as councilman ends in 2005, but if he were to win the mayoral race someone from his party would be appointed to fill his term until the next election, said Ms. Weiler.
   Mr. Sandusky is a past post commander at American Legion Post 39 and he has served on the Township Recreation Committee, Environmental Commission and Local Assistance Board.
   He was recently named to the Municipal Hall of Fame by the New Jersey State League of Municipalities for more than 20 years of municipal service.