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SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Incumbents ‘all in’

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
   It appears all three incumbents on the Township Council will be seeking re-election this year.
   Democrats Joe Camarota and Charles Carley recently have said they both likely would run for another term on the governing body this November, and Republican John O’Sullivan officially announced his intentions this week.
   Mr. O’Sullivan made the formal announcement during the fourth annual Lincoln Tea and Dance at Pierre’s Restaurant on Sunday afternoon.
   ”I’d like to have two other Republicans to second my motions,” Mr. O’Sullivan joked.
   Three seats on the council are up for election this year.
   Both Mr. Camarota and Mr. O’Sullivan ran unsuccessfully for state and county offices in 2011.
   Mr. Camarota ran for the state Assembly in the 16th district and received the highest number of votes for that party in the election.
   Mr. O’Sullivan ran for Middlesex County freeholder against fellow resident and former Deputy Mayor Carol Barrett.
   Representatives from both parties said they actively are seeking candidates to screen to fill both parties tickets in the November election.
   In addition to candidates from the two major parties, former Mayor Debra Johnson, who ran as an independent for mayor in 2010, said she likely would make a run for council this year.
   Ms. Johnson was the first directly elected mayor of the township in 1998 following a change in government from the Township Committee form to the council and manager form.
   She decided not to seek a second term in 2002 in order to help out her family, but returned in 2006 where she lost a Democratic primary battle with Mayor Frank Gambatese.
   She ran again unsuccessfully in 2010 with independent council candidate Jean Dvorak.