Neary to call it quits after 12 years at helm

Mayor William Neary will step aside after 12 years in charge of East Brunswick, saying it's time for someone with fresh ideas to take his place.

William Neary Neary's announcement opened the way for the township's Democratic Organization to back Councilman David Stahl in his bid for mayor. Stahl had planned to challenge Neary in the June Democratic primary.

With no primary contest, the Democratic ticket for this fall will now include a merger of the Township Council candidates that were expected to run with Neary and Stahl. Denise Contrino, from Stahl's slate, will run alongside incumbent Councilwoman Nancy Pinkin, who had been expected to run with Neary.

Councilman Donald Klemp will step aside, as will Wendy Friedman, who was to run on Stahl's team. Stahl said she will instead serve as campaign manager.

In November, Stahl, Pinkin and Contrino are expected to face a Republican ticket that includes former Councilwoman Christi Calvano for mayor, and council candidates Dr. Gene DeMarzo and James Wendell.

Neary told the township's

(Continued on page 16) Democratic Organization April 3 that heartfelt deliberations with his family led to the decision that the time is right to step down at the end of this year, when his third four-year mayoral term comes to an end. He cited accomplishments over the years as including the preservation of hundreds of acres of open space, modernizing and adding new township parks, and reversing what he said was a trend of neglect for the township's roads.

"My decision for not continuing the progress is based on the need for new and exciting leadership, to relieve the stress for my family and to focus more on the challenges of my new career [as executive director of Keep Middlesex Moving]. This decision was introspective and personal. It was difficult but realistic. I never wanted to have my family or friends see me sink to political grandstanding to win elections for the wrong reasons. I want to leave public service as I came in: As a hardworking stiff with high integrity, a healthy respect for the professionalism of the municipal staff, and honorable intentions," Neary said.

As mayor, Neary initiated television broadcasts of council meetings in the spirit of open government, he said, but while it allowed residents a chance to see the government at work from their homes, "it also allowed Township Council decisions to be undermined by the theatrical performances of political operatives.

"The maturity and thoughtfulness of council members was frequently overshadowed by the audience antics, and the actual decisions were hard to decipher in the rhetoric," Neary said.

Neary said he thinks the public's anger toward government at all levels has grown as the nation "is spending $12 billion monthly on a disastrous war, and our bankrupt state has placed additional burdens on municipalities."

Local government, he said, "is strangled by an outdated and obsolete taxing structure."

He said he no longer has the energy to combat such factors.

Neary also took a shot at Republicans who have criticized his actions over the years.

"The naysayers of the other side of the aisle will not provide the vision needed," he said. "A goal of cut-cut-cut services and taxes will hurt our property values and eventually raise our taxes. The idea that these are simple solutions is simplistic, and we need to work together to seriously establish plans for the future."

The local Democratic Party, he said, "is still the party to accomplish these goals and embrace the creativity needed to sustain the visions for the future."

He said the township needs "a fresh voice with an understanding of the issues and a vision for the future is critical in facing these tough times ahead."

In closing, Neary thanked the organization for the opportunity to serve as mayor.

"I feel that I have contributed to the community and that more than anything else, I managed to balance the stress of public life and maintained the love and support of my wife and son, which continues to be the single most important thing in my life," he said.