Politics & Government

Voters Will See Township Committee Primary Battle... for Democrats

William Kole and John Reddan file for June primary.

Hillsborough voters can usually yawn through the June primaries, with primary contests for the Township Committee nominations non-existant—until this year.

Local Democrats will choose between William Kole and John Reddan, as both filed petitions for the June 4 primary for the Democratic nomination.

The winner will face Frank DelCore, the lone Republican to file for the primary (barring any independent candidates, who have until June 4 to file for November's general election).

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The deadline to file for the primary was 4 p.m. Monday.

"It shows a lot of interest in the democratic process, and we'll let the voters decide," Hillsborough Democratic Chairman Michael Goldberg said.

Find out what's happening in Hillsboroughwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Goldberg was surprised to learn Reddan, a former market surveillance specialist for the New York Stock Exchange and executive with the Office Professional Employees International Union, had filed.

Kole has also run for the New Jersey Assembly and the Hillsborough Board of Education.

In a press release announcing his candidacy, Reddan called public service a "civic duty," and said he "looks forward to having this additional opportunity to give back to the community in which I have lived and raised my family."

"Candidates need to be actively involved in their community and spend time listening to their neighbors in order to be able to develop the right priorities," he said. "Then, they need to be able to collaborate with colleagues on the Township Committee in order to get things done. I believe that I have those abilities. 

"If you ask Hillsborough residents what their three greatest concerns are, they would tell you taxes, traffic, and the difficulty of getting a variety of good businesses to open and survive in town," he continued. "The people who sit on the Township Committee can have a significant impact on these matters. Every development decision affects taxes, traffic, and businesses, in addition to our schools and our environment. The bottom line is quality of life in town and my goal is to keep Hillsborough a desirable community in which to live and work."

In his press release, Kole said he feels the township's changes he's witnessed in his lifetime haven't all been for the better.

“We have the capacity to be a great community—all we need is the leadership to take us there," he said. "There are too many unfinished projects, including the Bypass, the Town Center and the GSA Depot recreational facility, that are languishing under the current leadership. We have challenges with the traffic and public safety on Route 206. Our businesses are suffering and our town center is becoming a ghost town. Immediate economic revitalization is a necessity. Hillsborough is not heading in the right direction and all we see are more and more tax increases.

“The all Republican Township Committee is content with the status quo, is lacking new ideas, needs a reality check on its priorities and needs to engage in the type of thoughtful discussion that leads to progress,” Kole added. “I will work with my fellow committee members but will not hesitate to challenge when needed. I will bring forth new ideas that will make Hillsborough a better and more affordable place to live and also tap the abundant skills and expertise of our residents.” 

Reddan is a 26-year Hillsborough resident and is married to Kathy, who works with learning disabled children at Auten Road School. Their three children attended and graduated from Hillsborough public schools, and graduated or are attending New Jersey colleges. Reddan has been a Little League coach and a Hillsborough High School Robotics Team parent, and he attends Mary Mother of God Church. He currently serves on the Hillsborough Historic Preservation Commission, and is also a Democratic District Committeeman and a member of the Hillsborough Democratic Alliance.

Kole is a lifelong resident of Hillsborough and a graduate of Hillsborough High School. He holds a master's in Administrative Science and graduate certificates in Administrative Science, Law and Public Safety Administration and Human Resources Administration.


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