WOODBRIDGE — Mayor John Mc- Cormac is hoping to secure another term as mayor, while challenger John Vrtaric will try to pull the upset during the Nov. 3 municipal election.
McCormac, a Democrat who has served as mayor since 2006, said it is important he wins another term to oversee several development projects currently in the works throughout the town.
“We hope to continue the progress we’ve made in bringing new businesses and middle-class jobs to town while improving the quality of life for our residents,” he said.
While McCormac hopes to continue his legacy of development throughout Woodbridge, Vrtaric, a 50-year resident who has unsuccessfully challenged the mayor in the past, said he is unhappy with the direction of development in Woodbridge.
“The bottom line is taxes are going up and the quality of life is going down,” the Republican candidate said. “[I would do] a lot of different things. I think you have to be a businessman.”
Vrtaric said one of the areas he’d focus on is improving senior housing and keeping long-time residents from moving out of Woodbridge.
However, McCormac said he is happy with the current direction of Woodbridge, saying the council and administration have made keeping and bringing in businesses a priority.
“The reason we are getting these projects is because we’ve created a very business friendly environment, and that needs to continue,” he said.
Vrtaric said he enjoys fundraising and campaigning but will not be beholden to any campaign donors.
“We are not obligated to any donor that gives us anything — we are obligated to the people of Woodbridge,” he said. “We don’t want nobody to tell us how to run Woodbridge except the people.”
McCormac is running alongside incumbent council members Kyle Anderson and Lizbeth DeJesus and newcomers Gregory Ficarra, Brian Small and Cory Spillar for five open seats on council.
Vrtaric heads a ticket that consists of council candidates Susan Zellner Hogan, Musleh Hakki, Paul Lund, Lori Vernachio Greiza and Bruce Banko.
The majority of the council candidates are running for the four at-large seats on the council, while Banko and Spillar are competing for the open seat representing Ward 3 on council. Independent Kevin Garcia is also vying for the seat representing the third ward.