By JACQUELINE DURETT
Correspondent
SOUTH AMBOY — In this city, elections can be pretty unpredictable — even when it comes to primaries.
In 2014, Mayor Fred Henry did not secure the Democratic party’s endorsement, but bested John O’Connell, the party’s pick in the primary. He went on to run as a Democrat and won the mayor’s seat. Now Henry leads the very party that opposed his run.
This time around, a newcomer running as a Democrat on his own, Brian McLaughlin, has displaced the Henry-run party pick, also a newcomer, Francis “Butch” Mulvey, for the first ward seat. There were no Republican candidates. McLaughlin beat Mulvey 222 to 143 on June 7.
Mulvey, a planning board member, was considered for a council role in 2010 following the passing of Councilman Russell Stillwagon — that seat went to Donald Applegate, who is still the first ward councilman.
This year, Mulvey ran with incumbents Thomas Reilly for the second ward and Zusette Dato for the third ward. Reilly and Dato ran unopposed.
“I am very happy,” McLaughlin said, adding he has since spoken with Henry and will be running with the support of the party. McLaughlin has challenged the council at recent meetings about issues such as whether a new firehouse is needed and the ferry project.
McLaughlin said he is looking to shake things up in South Amboy.
“My campaign’s about changing the city,” he said, adding that he feels there is too much residential development happening in South Amboy. “All we’re doing is building condos and townhouses.”
Instead, he said he would like to see additional commercial ratables, such as light warehousing, come to the city. “We have no industry left,” he pointed out. He also said he would like to see more business on Broadway and supports the new Broadway-centered arts district initiative.
McLaughlin, a representative for a trade union in New York City, said he has held various posts in the union and thought this was the right time to pursue a leadership position in the city as well. He said it was “always something I wanted to do.”
McLaughlin said one thing he is particularly passionate about is working with the board of education about career choices for those students who do not go on to college. He said those students are often forgotten about, but the trades offer an excellent alternative to college, adding that when he was growing up, there was little guidance to help him get there. He said other towns now have initiatives to assist students interested in pursuing a trade career, and he would like to see South Amboy do the same.