A Republican will try to retake the one Morristown council ward where the GOP once had a foothold.
Former Long Hill Mayor Bruce Meringolo on Monday announced his candidacy in the Fourth Ward, where Council President Sandi Mayer, a Democrat, intends to seek a second term.
But first, she will have to fend off a June 6, 2023, Democratic primary challenge from planning board member Chris Russo. It’s his second bid for council since 2015.
In 2019, Mayer defeated three-term GOP Councilwoman Alison Deeb, for years the lone Republican on the governing body.
Meringolo, a resident in the Lidgerwood Park section, said he will campaign for greater transparency at town hall, tighter fiscal discipline, and more attention to parks, roads and quality of life issues. He is particularly critical of town plans to purchase the Morristown Post Office for municipal offices.
“Where is the plan for this purchase on the township website?” Meringolo asked in a statement. “Where are the public hearings to allow for public comment? Moving town hall may be a great idea but we just don’t know. That’s not how government should work.”
Mayer, who declined to comment on Russo’s primary challenge, said the post office purchase is in a “due diligence” phase and the council awaits data from the Mayor’s office.
“The Administration hired an historic architecture firm so we can have a proper review. The transparency has been there if (Meringolo) attended any meetings that we discussed these topics,” the councilwoman said.
She cited a slew of improvements to Lidgerwood Park and Foote’s Pond Wood, as well as last month’s revitalization study for Burnham Park.
“I don’t remember Mr. Meringolo ever attending a council meeting and asking questions on any topic,” Mayer said, taking the candidate to task for referring to Morristown as a “township.” It has a town form of government.
Meringolo works for the DISH Network and spent a decade in commercial real estate, according to his statement. He spent nine years on the Long Hill Township Board of Education before his six-year council stint, which including a year as mayor. Over that span, he says Long Hill saw annual average tax increases of less than 1 percent.
“I want to bring the experience of having 15 years in local government to Morristown for the benefit of my community,” stated Meringolo, who stepped down from the Long Hill council in 2019. He ran unsuccessfully for Morris County Commissioner in 2020.
Mayer lives in Parsons Village and works for an accountant. She is council liaison to the Morristown Parking Authority and is a member of the Friends of Foote’s Pond Wood, the Morris County Democratic Committee Women’s Caucus, and Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America.
“Anyone involved in the Town knows how involved I have been for the past three years. I am not an absentee council member and take pride in knowing what is happening and asking questions,” Mayer said.
Russo, co-founder of Superhero Events, which stages road races, could not be reached for comment on Monday night.
Morristown is led by Mayor Tim Dougherty, a Democrat in his fourth term, with six Democrats and one Independent on the council.
Below is Meringolo’s full statement.
Bruce Meringolo declares for 4th Ward Morristown Town Council election
Republican brings 15 years of elected office experience to the race
Morristown – March 27, 2023 – Bruce Meringolo has filed to enter the Morristown Town Council election for the 4th Ward as a Republican. Meringolo, a Morristown resident in the Lidgerwood Park section of town, said he wanted to bring greater transparency to the council, encourage greater fiscal discipline and increase attention on parks, road maintenance and quality of life issues.
Meringolo brings more than 15 years of experience as an elected official to the race. As a long-time resident of Long Hill Township, he first served nine years on the township Board of Education then six years on the Town Council, including one as mayor. During his 15 years in office, Long Hill Township saw annual average tax increases of less than 1 percent.
“I want to bring the experience of having 15 years in local government to Morristown for the benefit of my community,” Meringolo said.
Meringolo said the current lack of transparency in government business in Morristown is troublesome. He cited the absence of information available to residents and the media regarding the township’s proposal to spend millions to purchase the old post office on the Green and move town hall.
“Where is the plan for this purchase on the township website?” Meringolo asked. “Where are the public hearings to allow for public comment? Moving town hall may be a great idea but we just don’t know. That’s not how government should work.”
Meringolo is a real estate professional at DISH Network Corporation while spending more than a decade in the commercial real estate sector. He will launch a campaign website with a full biography in the near future.
This story has been updated with information about a Democratic primary challenge.
