By Debra Johnson
To the editor:
Since the primary, I have had the opportunity to personally meet and thank so many of the people that supported Shilpn (Patel) and I. The kindness was incredible. It is staggering to consider the wonderful good will in our community.
Though I am sorry that Shilpn and I lost the (Democratic) primary, I do not regret for a moment participating in it. The campaign is a wonderful opportunity to speak to neighbors throughout the community to hear their thoughts, their feelings, their fears and hopes.
I wish I could individually thank all of you, but I wanted to generally thank all those who took the time to participate in the process. I thank all of you that opened your doors to us, I thank those of you who supported us and have always been so supportive, and I thank all of South Brunswick for being a community that I am so proud that I am from.
I thank J. Pitt the world’s greatest and most loyal campaign treasurer and friend.
Most of all, I thank my running mate Shilpn Patel.
I was honored to run with such a wonderful young man with so much passion and conviction, as well as brains. I am fortunate to have him as a friend as well as running mate.
I will not forget the concerns shared with me, and will do what I can to continue to better our town.
When Willa Spicer and I started the annual Women’s’ Conference, it was an offspring from the Domestic Violence Task Force I established.
I heard you when you said that you missed the anti-domestic violence marches, and programs, to remind all that spousal and child abuse are not welcome here. I agree the march needs to happen again, and will work to get it done.
I heard the senior citizen ,which stated that was without electricity and heat for more than three days during the winter and sought, but received no help from the township. The township does have an emergency management plan and lines of communication, which must be further opened to protect all of our citizens.
When I had the opportunity to serve you as your mayor, I began the senior reassurance program designed by a leader of the senior community, Thelma Karras, and that program must continue to thrive. I promise I will follow up so no one in town will have to suffer this again.
The top issues discussed with Shilpn and I were taxes, growth and traffic – especially on the Route 1 corridor. I will follow up with the concerns shared with me and promise to get back to you, either publicly or privately.
I have participated in my home town South Brunswick since I was a Brownie in Ms. Schwingdinger’s Girl Scout troop. I will not stop now. I have benefited too much from being here not to give back.
Family, Neighbors and Friends, thanks again.
