Francis “Mac” Womack II While the mayoral and council elections will go uncontested on Nov. 3, Democrat incumbents Francis “Mac” Womack II, Carlo Socio, and Shanti Narra have pledged to continue their mission of service to North Brunswick residents while improving quality of life.
And this year, there will be no municipal elections held in South Brunswick.
The 59-year-old Womack, who is the mayor of North Brunswick, was elected to his first term on the Township Council in 2002. He became mayor in 2004, which he has retained since.
The 27-year resident is a lawyer by trade, and has volunteered with the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the PRAB Human Services Agency’s Board of Trustees.
“North Brunswick is a very solid and diverse American town with really good people who care about each other. Ninety-nine percent of the time it is a wonderful privilege to be in a position to work with and get to know the great residents we have here,” Womack said.
“If re-elected, I would like to focus on township services that we offer to our senior citizens and I’d like to enhance our library. I will continue to work on finding ways to connect the town both physically and through township programs. I will work to make sure that our law enforcement agency continues to be an integrated part of our neighborhoods and that it continues to grow with the needs of the township.
“I’d also like to successfully see the transit village take on the full reality of a town center that will benefit the community — one that enhances the quality of life and enhances the reputation of our town and our population.
“And, of course, I’d like to continue to work on our tax base to keep our tax rates stable,” Womack said.
Socio, 44, was first elected to office in 2000. He has served as council president and vice president, as well as council liaison to the planning board and the Media Advisory Board, and is currently the council representative to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.
Working as a project supervisor for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Socio is also currently a member of the Middlesex County Transportation Planning Board.
Living in town since he was four years old, Socio has spent his adult life volunteering as the director for Tee Ball and Rookie Softball for the North Brunswick Baseball & Softball Association, a travel soccer coach, a recreation soccer coach, a baseball and softball coach, a class parent at Judd Elementary School and an assistant coach for the North Brunswick Recreation Wrestling Program.
“While the town has grown over the years, it still has that small-town feel. I played soccer and tee ball and participated in many recreational activities in town, and now my daughters do the same things I did. My wife Debbie and I decided to raise our children here because we feel that North Brunswick provides that same close-knit, family-friendly atmosphere that I enjoyed as a child,” Socio said.
“I love serving the residents of town and always try to make the best decisions based on the township as a whole. Being involved in many volunteer activities affords me the opportunity to always be available to the residents of North
Brunswick to hear their concerns and take them back to the municipal building so that they can be heard and acted on.” One of his greatest accomplishments over the past 15 years is the creation of signs that notify members of the public of potential zoning changes or proposed developments.
“When I was on vacation in Arizona, I noticed signs on properties that would advertise what was proposed to be put on it. I thought it was a great idea to try out here, as we would always hear of how residents would not know what was being built on a piece of property until it was already underway. The signs actually give residents a heads-up and the opportunity to voice their support or opposition to any project but more importantly, gives everyone an opportunity to know what is going on ahead of time, increasing transparency.”
If he is elected to another term, Socio said his future goals include focusing on a viable location to build a community center.
“This will serve as a place for both active recreation activities as well as provide meeting rooms for a wide variety of activities. As a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, I will look to continue to expand programming to meet the desires of our residents and the continued development of passive recreational opportunities at the Pulda Farm,” he said.
In addition, since Socio said the town’s fiscal responsibility has allowed officials to “maintain services in a time when a lot of other towns have had to make cuts,” he added, “We need to continue our commitment to being fiscally responsible so that we continue to deliver services while watching the bottom line.”
Narra, 48, is a supervising attorney at the criminal defense practice of The Legal Aid Society in Manhattan.
Before being elected to the Township Council in 2009, Narra had served as a Democratic committeewoman for District 10 since 2007. She served on the planning board for one year, and has been council liaison to the library’s Board of Directors, the Council on Affordable Housing and the Open Space Committee. She is newly appointed as the parliamentarian for the Middlesex County Democratic Organization.
She said the greatest accomplishment that has come under her term is the approval of the transit village on the former Johnson & Johnson property on Route 1.
“As someone who grew up in this town [for 42 years] I know we cannot stop change, nor should we do so. We must, however, manage change and growth in a manner that best serves the community now and in the future. I believe the transit village and the incoming train station represent smart planning and immense opportunities for the town and region,” she said.
If she is re-elected, Narra plans to work toward the creation of a community center.
“Our young people, seniors and other residents need a place for social, educational and recreational activities. There needs to be a center where residents of all ages can congregate. Ideally I would like to see a combination new library/recreation center/senior center,” she said.
“I am also committed to seeing us use the Pulda Farm to its utmost potential. This year was our inauguration of the North Brunswick Community Garden. My hope is to expand resident participation with the garden; ultimately I’d like to encourage residents to either donate excess crops to the food bank or set up a farmers market where the proceeds support the food bank.
“In addition, I would like to work on completing a means of access to Farrington Lake from the farm. We finally have public lands that abut the lake, and the opportunities for our residents to canoe, kayak and fish there are exciting,” she said.
Narra said all of the plans must be built on a foundation of fiscal responsibility.
“North Brunswick is a truly wonderful community that will continue to grow and evolve but must do so while sustaining an affordable lifestyle for its residents. I would be honored to continue to work towards those goals for the place I am lucky enough to call home,” she said.