By Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
Days after their Democrat counterparts announced their intention to run for the Hillsborough Township Committee, Republican incumbents Gloria McCauley and Doug Tomson formally threw their names in the running for the June GOP primary., Their nomination was made last Saturday, March 18 during a meeting of the Hillsborough Township Republican Organization., Mayor Carl Suraci touted the work of his fellow Republican committee members shortly after their nomination, citing their “business-like approach to government” as a mark of success in recent years., “Gloria [McCauley] and Doug [Tomson] have worked hard to keep the municipal budget under the 2 percent cap every year without gimmicks,” Republican Mayor Carl Suraci said. “I know they will keep looking for savings wherever they can find them.”, Tomson, a 36-year Hillsborough resident, has served on the township committee since his swearing in on Jan. 3, 2012. Since then, he has held the position of deputy mayor in 2013 and mayor in 2014 and 2015., Prior to his time on the governing body, Tomson served as the liaison to various organizations, including the Agricultural Advisory Committee, Board of Education, Cable Advisory Committee, Board of Health, Local Assistance Board, Library Council, Recreation and Parks Commission and the Youth Services Commission. He has also worked on both the Planning Board and Capital Planning Committee since 2008., “Serving of the township committee … has been one of the greatest privileges of my life and I look forward to having the opportunity to serve the residents of Hillsborough for three more years,” Tomson said., Tomson is a graduate of Hillsborough High School who later received a degree in Political Science and Global and Multinational Studies from Rider University. He now lives with his wife Rachel and three daughters Sara, Hannah and Hailey., He is also the Government Affairs Director for the New Jersey Association of REALTORS, where he is charged with following, analyzing and working with lawmakers to amend legislative and regulatory measures that have an impact on homeownership., McCauley, a 30-year Hillsborough resident, has served in a public capacity since she was elected to the committee in 2008. Earlier this year, she was named the township’s deputy mayor for the third time, having previously held the title in 2010 and 2010. She was also elected to serve as mayor in 2011., Prior to joining the governing body, McCauley was an elected member to the township’s Charter Study Commission in 2007. That same year, she served on the Somerset County Planning Board and was chosen as outstanding woman in Somerset County in 2008 for her public service., Over the years, McCauley has served as liaison to a number of functional areas and organizations, including Public Safety and Emergency Services, Economic and Business Development Commission, Hillsborough-Millstone Municipal Alliance, Parks Commission, Recreation Commission, Senior Citizen Housing Council, Sign Review Committee, Sustainable Hillsborough Committee and Finance Committee., “During my last nine years on the committee, I have worked hard to make sure Hillsborough is one of the best towns in America,” she said. “We have been recognized by numerous organizations for Hillsborough being one of the safest and best towns in [the state] and of course the 16th best town in America by Money Magazine.”, In her professional life, McCauley is a broker and realtor for RE/MAX Preferred Professionals in Hillsborough., “Doug and I have campaigned on a motto of ‘promises made, promises kept’ and we will continue to live by it,” McCauley said. “We have delivered for the people of Hillsborough, and we look forward to doing more of the same over the next three years.”, Tomson echoed his running mate’s sentiments and repeating his goals as an elected official., “Every action I take as an elected official is about the sustainably of Hillsborough for future generations,” he said. “I want to ensure that my three children and any children in Hillsborough will have the opportunity to grow up and one day raise a family in Hillsborough like I did.”, The Republican nomination came 10 days after the Hillsborough Democratic Organization announced its selection of Jane Staats and Harrison “Harry” Burke to run for the two seats on March 8., If Tomson, McCauley, Staats and Burke make it through their party’s respective primaries this June, they will face off against each other in the polls this November.
