Gambatese gets Mayor Johnson’s support for the position
By: Brian Shappell
Four Democrats have said they are interested in running for mayor in November.
Council members Frank Gambatese, Ed Luciano and Carol Barrett and zoning board member Arthur Robinson said they would consider running for mayor after Mayor Debra Johnson announced Jan. 22 she would not seek re-election.
Last week Mayor Johnson said she would support Mr. Gambatese for the position.
Mr. Gambatese and Mr. Robinson both confirmed they would actively seek the Democratic Party nomination, while Mr. Luciano and Ms. Barrett both said they are waiting to talk with members of the Democratic Party before officially deciding to run.
The Democratic and Republican parties will begin a screening process to determine who will receive party backing in the June primaries. Primary winners will face off in a November general election with the possibility of independent candidates also running.
No members of the Republican Party have announced intentions to run for mayor this year as of Tuesday.
All four Democratic hopefuls said they will go through their party’s screening process starting in early March. However, Mr. Robinson said he might run for the position as an independent if he doesn’t get the nod from his party.
Democratic Party Chairman Charles Carley said a June primary race, if there is one, will not be "The War of the Roses" but will progress in an amicable and mature fashion. He said the lineup is a good indication of the strength of the party.
"I’m glad that people are interested and excited in running on the Democratic line," Mr. Carley said. "It speaks well for the organization."
Mayor Johnson has held the position since the township changed from a township committee to a council-manager form of government with the 1998 election. Before the committee-to-council change, Mayor Johnson served four years on the committee, one as mayor. However, Mayor Johnson said she wanted to devote more time to her personal and family life and that she would not seek re-election.
Mr. Gambatese, who ran with Mayor Johnson in 1997 and 1998, said her support is the main reason he has said he is interested in the position.
"Certainly, I’m pleased with that," Mr. Gambatese said. "We’ve worked closely going on four years now."
Mr. Gambatese said he would be a good mayor because of his experience on the council, his expertise in accounting and the amount of free time he has to devote to the position due to his retirement.
"I can devote all my time to the needs of the township," Mr. Gambatese said. "I think that’s a plus. And in being deputy mayor for the past four years, I’m up on all of the things going on in South Brunswick."
Mr. Gambatese said his priority issues if elected are finishing quality-of-life projects in progress such as the library expansion and the conversion of open space owned by the township into parks.
Mr. Robinson said he plans to be on the November ballot with or without the support of the Democratic Party. Mr. Robinson, who lost a 1992 Township Committee race, is forming an exploratory committee with local politicians and residents to determine whether to run in the June primary or in the general election in November.
"I am a loyal Democrat, but I think independently," Mr. Robinson said. "I’m not saying I’m not a team player, but you have to have an open mind."
Mr. Robinson said he wants to be a mayor who will strengthen township ties to the state so issues such as urban sprawl, Route 92 the proposed N.J. Turnpike spur and the MOM line a proposed high-speed rail line connecting the Shore area to the Northeast Corridor Line will get more attention. He said the township has not gotten enough attention from the state in recent years.
"I think we need an aggressive person in there to hit the deck running," Mr. Robinson said.
Mr. Robinson said he will not accept a salary if he is elected.
Mr. Luciano and Ms. Barrett each said they are interested in running, but won’t make a strong push for the nomination unless members of the Democratic committee tell them to do so.
"To say I would like to run and that I’m ready to run, that’s true," Mr. Luciano said. "Will I be a candidate that’s yet to be decided."
Both also said they would support whomever the party chose as the Democratic candidate for November.
"I definitely would never run off the line," Ms. Barrett said.