SOUTH BRUNSWICK – A former councilman will vie for the mayoral position in South Brunswick against the current mayor, who was appointed in April.
Republican John O’Sullivan last served on the council in 2012. He is running for mayor this year against Democrat Christopher Killmurray, who was sworn in to the position on April 11 after the passing of Frank Gambatese.
O’Sullivan has lived in town for 28 years. He is a retired security manager.
He is the president of the Old Barracks Association Board of Trustees, member of the South Brunswick Lions, member of American Legion Post 401 in South Brunswick, and committeeman for District 26 for the South Brunswick Republican Organization.
He served on the South Brunswick Township Council from November 2009 to December 2012. He said his greatest accomplishment while serving was helping residents, especially in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in 2012; protecting the health and well-being of residents as a member of the South Brunswick Board of Health; and receiving the N.J. Local Boards of Health Association’s Member of the Year 2011 Award.
“Our town is getting shabby. Warehouses are encroaching on residential areas. Restaurants and retail stores either don’t locate here or many of the ones that have are now closing,” O’Sullivan said of deciding to run for office this year. “In 2011, ‘Money’ magazine ranked South Brunswick No. 22 of the 100 Best Small Towns in the U.S. This year, another survey ranked South Brunswick 138th in New Jersey. Quite a decline.”
He said he is running to provide South Brunswick with new leadership to both stop the decline and make the town a better place for residents. He said he wants to provide residents with better lifestyle services and engage a business developer who will focus on this type of growth.
“North Brunswick has a growing town center complex. How nice would it be for South Brunswick to provide its residents with a robust center with shops, entertainment venues and dining options?” he said.
He said Stouts Lane is often used by high school students to walk between the school and the Target shopping center, which is cause for concern.
“There are no sidewalks in this area and the road is curvy and narrow, creating a safety hazard. Every year, high school students petition the council to provide sidewalks. We need to stop ignoring this issue and do whatever is necessary to get those sidewalks in,” he said.
O’Sullivan also said the increasing municipal funding to the library will enable the library to provide more services to residents, as it is the municipal facility most used by residents.
Killmurray could not be reached for comment.
Election Day is Nov. 7.
