Nanette Craig seeking council seat
By: Joseph Harvie
Nanette Craig is the new Republican candidate for Township Council.
She’ll be seeking the four-year seat up for grabs at the Nov. 7 general election.
Ms. Craig, of Kendall Park, is filling the spot left vacant when Republican mayoral candidate Richard Kish dropped out of the race two weeks ago and was replaced by Lynda Woods Cleary, who had been seeking the council seat.
Incumbent Democrats Mayor Frank Gambatese and Councilman Chris Killmurray are both seeking re-election.
Ms. Craig was chosen to fill the vacant slot by the local Republican organization at its Sept. 13 meeting, said local party President Roger Craig, who also is Ms. Craig’s husband.
"There is a lot of dissatisfaction with the current administration out there," Mr. Craig said. "We look forward to telling our story."
Ms. Craig said she has lived in South Brunswick for more than 40 years. The former nurse and supervisor at Somerset County Technical Institute said that she has always been interested in politics and will do her best for the township.
"I’ve had a very good experience living here," Ms. Craig said. "And I’d like to give back what this town has given to me. I’m looking at it as giving a service to the community."
Ms. Craig has been a member of the Municipal Alliance, a township group that works to warn people of dangers of drug abuse, and was a sewer assessment commissioner for the township. She also volunteers at the Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, where she spends time with ill children. In addition, she volunteers at the township Senior Center.
Ms. Craig earned a nursing degree from Jersey City Medical Center, an associate’s degree in general studies from Rider University and a master’s degree in adult education from Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Ms. Craig said the council should control annual spending.
"I would like to see some changes in spending," Ms. Craig said. "I think (the township) overspends and taxes keep going up and up. Some control of that would be important."
She said one way to cut costs would be to share services with other municipalities and with the school district.
She said the Republicans need to be represented better on the Township Council, which is currently made up of four Democratic councilmen and a Democratic mayor. She said that because the council is all from the same party, decisions are made prior to meetings, which cuts down on public dialogue on issues.
"I think there needs to be more than just one party in control," Ms. Craig said. "I think it’s been one party for too long."

