By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
Mayor Steve Kirson will not be seeking a second term once his time in public office concludes at the end of December.
Mr. Kirson, who is a democrat, started his term as mayor in January of 2011.
After working on Wall Street for 30 years, he thought he could use the business skills he learned from the private sector and transfers them over into government.
”I knocked on a lot of peoples doors,” said Mr. Kirson who credits his neighbors for inspiring him to run.
He ran for council in 2010, but lost by just seven votes.
Being pretty much unknown to Hightstown residents, he was able to then become elected-mayor.
”It really was a grassroots campaign,” said Mr. Kirson.
The mayor said he decided not to seek re-election because his wife would be retiring from teaching as an elementary school teacher in New Brunswick, and he simply wants time to do other things.
”I decided to make the decision early on,” said Mr. Kirson “I will finish my term two months shy (of age) 66. I don’t want to finish another term two months shy of 70.”
Mr. Kirson also said he will still be involved in the town he has lived in for the past 11 years.
He has set his sights on a group called Downtown Hightstown, which looks for ways to improving the downtown.
Rejuvenating downtown Hightstown was actually one the main goals for Mr. Kirson since the beginning, and he is hoping can continue until the end of his term.
Mr. Kirson said he is looking to develop a strip of buildings, which have been vacant for nearly 28 years. He said he has had some residential prospects, but nothing is set.
Lowering the municipal tax rate since he took office, and acquiring improvements to the water treatment plant in town are just some of his accomplishments.
Mr. Kirson said the 1.2 square-mile town though still has a ways to go.
”The reason why I ran originally was because we needed more intervention by the county for more shared services, and we still do,” said Mr. Kirson. “A 1.2 square-mile (town) cannot possibly function alone. We are built out and we cannot attract the ratables to reduce the amount of taxes on the residents , so the burden is on everyone who lives here.”
However, according to Mr. Kirson, there is an endeavor to provide EMS dispatch on a county level, so he and his administration are working on that.
Mr. Kirson said he has no regrets and that “everything is a learning experience, and there were some challenging moments.”
He does credit his small staff of 50 for being helping him run the borough.
”I call Hightstown the biggest small city around,” said Kirson. “We have our water treatment plant, our own waste water treatment plant , our own garbage pick up. For a very harsh winter, we have had water main breaks, and this small staff has been to handle all of them. It’s unbelievable what this small crew is able to provide to the borough. that’s where the education is.”
Mr. Kirson said he is endorsing the Democrats for the next election, who include Councilman Larry Quattrone, Council President Susan Bluth and previous Councilman Walter Sikorsk.
”(The election) should be very interesting.,” he said.
The first thing he will do once he’s out of office?
”I think I’ll work on becoming a better golf player,” the mayor said.

