SOUTH BRUNSWICK – The current mayor of South Brunswick is hoping to keep his seat during a campaign against a former councilman.
Democrat incumbent Charlie Carley, the current mayor, has lived in South Brunswick since 1993. He is a professional engineer, professional planner and certified municipal engineer, currently working as a civil engineer.
Over the years, he has volunteered with community groups and civic endeavors, such as picking up litter for Earth Day, coaching his daughter’s recreation soccer team, helping out at the VFW, and supporting high school athletic teams.
“I have had the privilege of holding elected office for the past 14 years. In that time, I’ve been part of a team that’s always worked hard to assure that South Brunswick is a great place to work, raise a family and retire,” he said.
Carley said he is running to maintain his mayoral seat because the late Mayor Frank Gambatese and the late Mayor Chris Killmurray both passed away in the past 18 months, and he wants to continue their legacy.
“They’re both dear friends and we shared a lot of good times and, I think, commonalities – a sense of fairness, an openness to ideas, and the thought that local government should be a positive thing in its own small way. I’d like to continue that spirit in South Brunswick town hall,” he said.
One of the issues Carley said he is focused on is judicial mandates for residential development.
Republican candidate John O’Sullivan has lived in South Brunswick for 29 years, married to Jacqueline for 45 years, with two adult children who were raised and educated in South Brunswick. He is a retired security manager.
O’Sullivan is a member of the South Brunswick Lions, member of American Legion Post 401, president of the Board of Trustees of the Old Barracks Museum, and former vice chairman of the South Brunswick Environmental Commission.
He previously served as a South Brunswick councilman from 2009-12. As council liaison to the Advisory Board of Health, he publicized public health issues; for this work, he was named Local Board of Health Member of the Year 2011 by the New Jersey Local Board of Health Association. He also helped improve safety by having “Students Walking” signs erected on Stouts Lane near South Brunswick High School.
O’Sullivan said he is running for mayor in order to improve the lack of lifestyle amenities in town.
“Restaurants, shops and entertainment venues are closing and new ones are not replacing them. In September 2011, ‘Money’ magazine ranked South Brunswick No. 22 of the 100 best places to live in America. We have since fallen off that list,” he said. “North Brunswick has a growing hub, offering shops, theaters and restaurants. Plainsboro is also growing its town center. As mayor, I will advocate to hire a business developer who will focus on developing these types of businesses.”
He is also focused on improving communication with residents.
“I firmly believe that the mayor needs to be accessible to the residents. While some residents can meet with the mayor during business hours, many of our residents cannot. I will have office hours on Saturdays,” he said.
He is also concerned with the township’s affordable housing allocation.
“COAH [the Council on Affordable Housing] has assigned South Brunswick a very high affordable housing quota. If implemented it will require building new schools and significantly improving the township’s infrastructure. Taxes will skyrocket, making South Brunswick unaffordable. As mayor, I will advocate to continue our fight in the courts to have our affordable housing quota lowered,” he said.
Election Day is Nov. 6.
