BY Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
MONTGOMERY — Citing increased work responsibilities, Township Committeeman Chris Sugden has decided not to seek re-election to Township Committee and has asked that his name be removed from the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
Former Township Committeeman Mark Conforti has been chosen to replace Mr. Sugden on the ballot, and will run for election with Mayor Christine Madrid. Mr. Conforti, who is the Planning Board chairman, served on Township Committee in 2012.
Mayor Madrid and Mr. Conforti, who are Republicans, are running unopposed for the two open seats. The term is for three years. No Democrats have filed to run for Township Committee.
Although Mr. Sugden is not running for re-election, he will serve out the remainder of his term that expires Dec. 31. He asked to be removed from the ballot because of added responsibilities given to him as the managing partner of Edison Venture Capital Partners.
Mr. Conforti was chosen to replace Mr. Sugden by the Republican Township Republican Organization. Mr. Conforti was appointed to Township Committee in 2012 to replace former Township Committee member Mark Caliguire, who resigned to become a Somerset County freeholder.
Mr. Conforti chose not to run for a full three-year term because of professional responsibilities. He has since retired as a managing director at Credit Suisse, and has the time to devote to Township Committee, said Mr. Caliguire, who is the chairman of the Montgomery Township Republican Organization.
In addition to serving as the Montgomery Township Planning Board chairman, Mr. Conforti serves on the Somerset County Planning Board. He served on the Montgomery Township Board of Education from 2006 to 2009.
Mr. Caliguire, the chairman of the Montgomery Township Republican Organization, praised Mr. Sugden and said he has been “a great asset” to Township Committee. He cited Mr. Sugden’s financial experience in helping to keep down spending and to keep municipal property taxes stable. He acknowledged Mr. Sugden’s added job responsibilities and the time needed to devote to Township Committee.
“Having Mark Conforti willing and able to step in to run for office in (Mr. Sugden’s) place is a great result. He has served Montgomery in numerous capacities over the years, and I am thrilled he is willing to do even more,” Mr. Caliguire said.
Mr. Conforti said he is looking forward to running for Township Committee. Montgomery Township is facing many challenges, given its desire to keep municipal property taxes stable, and he said he would “always be a voice for fiscal prudence.”
The township also faces development pressures, given the recent New Jersey State Supreme Court ruling on the Council on Affordable Housing and the requirement to provide affordable housing, Mr. Conforti said. It is “imperative” for the township to do what it can to control its own destiny when it comes to development, he added.
