SOUTH RIVER – Two incumbents of the South River Borough Council, a former mayor and a fireman are running for two seats on the governing body this year.
Incumbent Democrats Shawn Haussermann and Ryan Jones are expected to face Republicans Raymond Eppinger and Peter Guindi in November as the four men seek two three-year terms on the council.
Haussermann is the current council president and Jones is a councilman. Eppinger is a former mayor. Guindi is a member of the South River Volunteer Fire Department.
The candidates are expected to be confirmed as their political party’s nominees when voters head to the polls on Primary Day, June 5, and then to the polls on Election Day in November.
Eppinger, 55, said when his term as mayor ended on Jan. 1, 2013, he thought he had retired from politics.
“After watching what the current regime has done over the past two years, I feel I have a duty to the borough to try and stop the insanity, mismanagement and just plain meanness that has engulfed our community. The decision to seek office again was made easier since my runningmate (Guindi) is a good friend and a community leader,” Eppinger said.
Eppinger, a lifelong resident of the borough, is the global head of claims for Allied World Reinsurance Company. He served the South River Board of Education from 1993-99, as a councilman from 2006-07 and as mayor from 2008-12.
If re-elected to the council, Eppinger said he wants to “end secret meetings and bring back transparency, spend taxpayer money wisely and efficiently, and treat borough workers with the respect they deserve. South River is a mature, built out community. As such, we should be concentrating on upgrading our infrastructure to protect our residents and provide the best possible services for the most affordable price.”
Eppinger has served on numerous boards and commissions throughout the years and is an active member of the South River Lions Club.
Guindi, 45, has lived in the borough for 44 years and said he has decided to run for a seat on the council “to help improve the lives of residents in particular and the town as a whole.”
As recently as last year, Guindi served as a member of the borough’s Cultural Arts and Heritage Commission and the South River Municipal Alliance Committee for Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse.
“I am interested in bringing business development back into the borough and to revitalize the downtown area which will give residents a central, safe and friendly location in which to shop and patronize, as well as to help reduce taxes,” Guindi said.
Guindi is employed by C3 Technologies as a compliance technician.
Haussermann, 60, is a lifelong borough resident. John Fee Jr., who is Haussermann’s great-grandfather, was mayor from 1915-17.
Haussermann said he served three three-year terms on the council from 1995-97, 1998 to 2000 and 2013-15. Currently he is serving his fourth term on the council.
“I believe the work we are doing has a long way to go and that (Ryan Jones) and I are the best candidates to continue it,” Haussermann said. “We have made so many changes since gaining the majority in 2017. To let residents have a better view of the decision-making process, we now broadcast the council’s business meetings and regular meetings on TV35. We publish a pamphlet in every electric bill, ‘The Monthly Buzz,’ that communicates important issues and events to residents to keep them up to date with everything that is happening in town.”
Haussermann said the Democratic council members have updated the borough calendar handout with additional information about municipal departments, schedules and more.
“We started paving roads again after a two year hiatus. We are upgrading our parks again. We have worked to trim our budget as much as possible by trimming waste and finding new shared services, so the heavy burden of paying for the new firehouse won’t hurt our residents as much. Our opponents have fought every one of these programs, but we have stood our ground and have made the difficult choices,” Haussermann said.
Haussermann is a field manager for Dish Network, a satellite TV company.
“Our opponents have records as some of the worst fiscal managers the borough has ever seen. They gave the town unbelievably high tax and electric increases, followed by uncontrolled spending we are finally turning around,” Haussermann said. “South River will be an unaffordable place to live should they make their way back on to the council. (Jones) and I will stand up to them and keep South River moving forward to an affordable future.”
Jones, 34, said he loves the borough he has lived in his entire life.
“Three years is not enough to complete efforts that make South River a friendlier place to live, which is why I’m running for a second term. I’m an attorney and work at a large firm in New Brunswick,” Jones said. “This skill-set has allowed residents to place their confidence and trust in me. Most importantly, at 34, I have proven my youth is an asset, as I am willing to work harder and longer to see the improvements residents deserve.”
Jones is a liaison to numerous boards, including the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, the TV35 Steering Committee and the Communications Committee. He served on the Finance Committee and served three years on the Public Safety Committee and the Budget Committee.
“Most importantly, as this year’s budget chair, we are returning fiscal sanity to this borough. This year will result in the smallest tax increase in many years and I’m still not satisfied with where we are,” Jones said. “Past administrations were focused primarily on debt financing a $14 million project, which residents will pay for over the next 30 years. Smarter budgeting from our administration will continue to keep rates low and be more aggressive with paying off debt.”
Jones said he has spent a significant amount of time making dozens of improvements that better inform residents and make residents believe in the borough’s close-knit community.
“A large focus is better informing residents of these improvements, whether it’s in ‘The Monthly Buzz,’ the community calendar, our new Facebook presence or on our continually improving website. I’m committed to making investments into previously neglected areas,” Jones said.
“Refusing to spend a dime toward maintenance and improvements for 20-plus years has taken a toll, hurts the quality of life in town and reduces property values. This year you will see the completion of the downtown streetscape revitalization, as well as major improvements in our parks,” he said. “I believe we have finally turned a page and I don’t want to see us go back.”
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
