OLD BRIDGE – Long-time Republican Mayor Owen Henry will face challengers as he seeks re-election to the four-year mayoral term up for grabs this year in Old Bridge.
Three other candidates have submitted their interest in the mayoral position– David Merwin and Mark Razzoli, who are current councilmen, and newcomer John Milner.
Merwin is running on the Middlesex County Democratic Organization slate; Mark Razzoli is running on the Old Bridge Democrats for Good Government slate; and John Milner, a Republican, is running on the Transparency and Accountability, Let’s Win Together slate.
Owen Henry, 59, who is a 58-year resident of the township, is seeking his third term as mayor. He has two grown children and a grandson.
“I was born in Hoboken and along with my family relocated here. I still live in my original house purchased by my parents,” he said.
Henry oversees his contracting business, which has been in operation since 1996. He is a graduate of Cedar Ridge High School [a former high school in the township] and earned his bachelor’s degree from Trenton State College [now The College of New Jersey].
“I now consider myself a full-time mayor in Old Bridge, a promise I made eight years ago when first elected,” he said. “A town of this size needs a person dedicated 24/7 to the position. I want to reaffirm that commitment.”
In the community, Henry has served on the Old Bridge Environmental Commission, the Old Bridge Planning Board and the Old Bridge Board of Education.
“My professional career has allowed me to donate my time, abilities and provide monetary assistance to all in need,” he said. “I continue to support continued education with scholarships for students within our community.”
Henry said he is running for re-election because he not only loves the town, but “cares deeply for those who live and work” in the township.
“Under my administration we have improved upon all services the township provides,” he said. “All departments have made customer service a priority. Public safety continues to be foremost and dedicated men and woman are ready to assist our residents at a moment’s notice. Old Bridge’s financial position continues to improve. Sound management and fiscally responsible decisions have enabled the town to do more with less.”
The 2019 budget does not include a municipal tax increase nor rely on one-time revenue sources, but yet continues to improve services and make additional investments into the community, Henry said.
“The town has had bond rating upgrades through my terms, now at AA1 which is a reflection of the financial improvements we have made,” he said.
Henry said his administration has accomplished what most said was impossible and could not be done.
“The results speak for themselves and I am proud of what has transpired in Old Bridge over the last seven-plus years,” he said. “I hope all want to continue making progress and moving Old Bridge forward in the right direction which benefits all our residents. I hope all of you will continue to support good government and not return to a mismanaged, self-serving political atmosphere as in the past.”
Henry said his goals and objectives remain consistent for the upcoming election, “complete dedication to the office of mayor, presenting myself and acting on your behalf as a professional.
“I will continue to address the issues which directly impact the taxpayers of Old Bridge,” he continued. “Sound and sustainable economic growth will allow us the ability to reduce the tax burden on our residents. The focus will be to maintain and improve the services our residents deserve. Old Bridge will be in a position to help its residents as long as the finances of the town are managed with good, sound and conservative principles. By following the road to success my administration has built and implemented, all our residents enjoy a high quality of life here in Old Bridge and a greater opportunity for all to achieve their goals.”
David Merwin, 64, who has lived in the township most of his adult life, is seeking his first term as mayor. He currently serves as a Ward 1 councilman and has two adult children.
He is retired from the Township of Old Bridge, serving more than 20 years as a police dispatcher and finished his 43-year career with multiple jobs – code enforcement officer, housing officer and parking facilities manager.
Merwin attended Cedar Ridge High School and Middletown Township High School and earned his GED. He is a certified emergency medical technician.
“Since 1972, I have served the residents of Old Bridge Township as a volunteer for the Laurence Harbor First Aid Squad, serving in all the line offices up to and including captain, and also over that time, I have served many years as president of the squad,” he said.
In the community, Merwin has served on the planning board, the Old Bridge Municipal Utilities Authority, and the library board at different times. He has served as the coordinator of the Old Bridge Memorial Day Parade for more than 10 years along with coordinating the annual Salt Water Day festival. He coordinated the original Old Bridge Day Parade for two years along with setting up the celebratory motorcade welcome home for the township’s National Champ Raritan Bay Cougars.
“I have devoted my life to helping others and continue to do so as an elected councilman from my ward,” he said. “I would like to continue this as mayor. Old Bridge is a great community with big problems ahead. We need to stop pointing fingers at each other and work towards straightening out our problems; [for example] Board of Education financial problems.”
If elected, Merwin said he would like to focus on smart growth.
“We need a solid tax base of commercial properties, not just pizza parlors and banks on every corner,” he said. “We have a large amount of area set aside for economic development, which does not mean residential development. Traffic is horrendous and needs to be addressed in partnership with the county and state. We need to finish building out Mannino Park and work with our YMCA to build out and expand.”
John Milner, 56, who is a 53-year resident of the township, is seeking his first term as mayor.
He is a landlord and has professional experience in payroll, corporate accounting, auditing and as a securities analyst. He earned a master’s degree in business administration (MBA) and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Rider University.
“I am running for mayor because I believe the taxpayers are being shortchanged and poorly led,” he said. “I have submitted many laws to Senator [Sam] Thompson [R-Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Union] and Assemblymen Bob Clifton and Ron Dancer [R-Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Union] to promote transparency and public oversight over our state municipalities. The key to this will be mandatory message boards accessed from the main page of all municipal, county and state websites, so we can find out how everything works.”
If elected, Milner said his priority as mayor will be transparency with the public and the reform of payroll.
“I know exactly how municipal audits are performed and I am dismayed that considering that amount of money that flows into our township, $150 million annually, parceled out to the board of education, half, the county, one quarter, and to the municipality, one quarter, that no one has identified waste, fraud and abuse in payroll,” he said.
Candidate Mark Razzoli did not respond by press time.
The primary election will be held June 4. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.