Montgomery Mayor Wilson makes bid for Somerset freeholder

An attempt to break into a longtime Republican stronghold

By: Jake Uitti
   MONTGOMERY — Township Mayor Louise Wilson announced last week she will run for Somerset County freeholder.
   "I will continue to serve on the Township Committee and serve as mayor while I’m running," Mayor Wilson said. "If I were to be elected freeholder, I would not try to hold two elected offices at the same time; I don’t believe in that."
   The mayor and Somerville Councilman Dennis Sullivan received unanimous approval Thursday from the Somerset County Democratic Organization to be candidates for freeholder in the upcoming primary and general elections.
   If Mayor Wilson were elected freeholder, a process for nominating someone to fill the vacant seat on the Township Committee would commence, she said.
   Though confident, Mayor Wilson said she understood the challenges of the race ahead with Republicans holding a longtime lock on the board.
   "It’s time for two-party government in Somerset County," she said. "Taxes need to be brought under control. Services to our most vulnerable residents need to be improved. Let’s face it, you could put my face next to ‘underdog’ in Webster’s. I am a Democrat and proud of it, but there hasn’t been a single Democrat elected to the Somerset Freeholder board since the 1970s."
   Mayor Wilson said her campaign will focus on the county tax burden.
   "County taxes go up year after year with virtually no justification and insufficient scrutiny," she said. "Many towns now pay about twice as much in county taxes as in municipal taxes. That is unacceptable. Dennis Sullivan and I have years of experience dealing with the problems facing taxpayers every day. We will tackle these issues with new ideas and an unequivocal commitment to financial best practices and good-government reforms."
   Mayor Wilson was the recipient of the good government Shared Services Award from the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and the Innovation in Government Award from the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
   "The other party has had a lock on this county for a very long time," Mayor Wilson said. "Think of it as a dead bolt with an extra chain for good measure. But the people of Somerset County are smart and independent-minded. Dennis and I will give them good reasons to vote for us; we’ll work hard to earn their confidence, and honestly I believe we can win this thing in November."
   Somerset County Democratic Chairman Elia Pelios expressed his excitement about the Wilson-Sullivan ticket, saying, "The voters are truly fortunate to have candidates of Louise and Dennis’ caliber, and the party is proud to endorse this ticket. The extensive local government experience of Louise Wilson and Dennis Sullivan will provide for an energetic debate and discussion of County management."
   The Board of Chosen Freeholders consists of five members. One or two are elected each year from the county at large to serve three-year terms. This year two seats are open, with Republican Rick Fontana running for re-election, and Republican Ken Scherer choosing not to run again.