By Gene Robbins, Managing Editor
Susan Gulliford didn’t vote Tuesday, but she’s still running for the Township Committee this fall.
That’s because Ms. Gulliford, a longtime municipal government watcher, is registered as an unaffiliated voter — one not enrolled in any political party — and Tuesday’s election was for Republicans and Democrats to nominate their candidates.
Republicans dutifully did so by casting ballots for incumbents Carl Suraci and Greg Burchette. Democrats nominated former township teacher Ann Harris, who was on the ballot, and writing in Laurie Poppe for a second spot. She needed a minimum of 24 votes, and unofficial results showed her getting at least 81.
Two three-year Township Committee seats will be decided in the November general election. Mr. Suraci and Mr. Burchette will be seeking fifth and second terms, respectively.
Just 2.8 percent of registered voters — that’s one in 35 — came to the somnolent polls Tuesday. The highest race on the ballot was state Assembly, with both parties nominating county candidates for freeholder and surrogate.
Ms. Gulliford, who submitted her nominating petition with 125 signatures on Monday, will make her independent status a cornerstone of her candidacy.
“I really feel I don’t want to be beholden to either side,” she said Tuesday. “I want to have my own outlook and ideas without feeling committed. It’s a personal principle and I want to stick by it.”
Ms. Gulliford has been active in the last two years working in the open space funding referendum in 2013 and for Democrats Thuy Anh Le and John Beggiato last fall. Party Chairman James Bergstrom said, “She helped educate us on issues.”
Mr. Bergstrom, who said he wouldn’t seek re-election a party chairman in the June 10 party reorganization, called Ms. Gulliford dedicated to the town, “but I’m not sure what she’s trying to accomplish.”
He said he knew she would file as an independent, but would not say if he tried to recruit her as a Democratic candidate this year.
Ms. Gulliford, of Hunt Club Road, has lived in Hillsborough since 1985 with her husband, George Mariasz, a Vietnam War veteran who is retired from Johnson and Johnson and served as a Hillsborough Township special police officer for 31 years.
Ms. Gulliford said her professional background includes employment as a dispatcher at the Hillsborough Township Police Department, working as a paralegal, and freelance writing and photography. Owning many rescue dogs and cats over the years, she began her writing career specializing in animal-related articles. Her writing includes about a decade as a correspondent for the Courier News specializing in covering Hillsborough Township, particularly the Board of Adjustment, the Planning Board and the Township Committee.
She served three years on the Sourland Alliance, a five-municipality planning group formed to protect the Sourland Mountain region, as a Hillsborough representative.
For many years, she has donated her time photographing township events, including the annual government reorganizations, Memorial and Veterans Day ceremonies, the Rotary Fair, Sept. 11th ceremonies, and high school marching band and Winterguard competitions. She and her husband photograph the Somerset County summer concerts. They are also the Raritan Valley Symphonic Band photographers.
“After years of covering Hillsborough meetings and events as a professional, I have maintained my interest as a resident of this community,” she said. “I research proposed ordinances, applications and budgets, and continue to attend meetings. I have always encouraged more residents to get involved.
She said, “Millions of our tax dollars are spent and planning decisions are made each year without much public input. This needs to change because many good ideas and diverse backgrounds are not being tapped.”
Ms. Gulliford said her knowledge of township government proceedings gives her an edge.
“The benefit of being an informed citizen is that I can step up to a position on the Township Committee with the most minimal learning curve,” she said.
She also hopes to turn her status outside the two political parties to her advantage. Hillsborough’s registered voter profile is 22 percent Democratic, 22 percent Republican and 56 percent unaffiliated (or other parties), she said.
“You might think that if all of the voters who chose not to affiliate with either political party voted for me in November, this would be an easy election,” she said in a release.“Unfortunately, parties also provide workers and money to their candidates, independent candidates have fewer resources. I hope that my campaign will attract equivalent support. I share the desire of the independent 56 percent to not be labeled and not be obligated to a particular political party. Additionally, I hope Democrats and Republicans respect my independence and consider what I have to say.”
She was born and raised in Clark Township. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Geneva College, an associate of arts in criminal justice from Somerset County College, and an A.A.S. in legal assisting from Raritan Valley Community College.
She asked potential supporters to contact her on Facebook or to email sgulliford2015@gmail.com.
