Cranford 2022 Primary Election: Here's Who's Running

CRANFORD, NJ — Last Monday was the filing deadline for the upcoming primary election in June, and four candidates are running for seats on Cranford's Township Committee this year.

Democrat Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty is running for a second term on the committee along with running mate Terrence Curran. They will face two Republican candidates — current Committeewoman Mary O'Connor, along with Chrissa Stulpin.

An independent candidate, William Thilly, is also running for Cranford's Township Committee.

There are two open seats on Cranford's Township Committee this year, according to Town Clerk Patricia Donahue.

The committee consists of five members with each term lasting three years. After the members of the committee are elected by the public in staggered years, they choose a mayor from among themselves each year.

Mayor Prunty was elected to the committee back in 2019. She has lived in Cranford for over 40 years where she raised her three sons. Prunty also previously served as Director of Downtown Cranford and worked as a representative to improve train service on the Raritan Valley Line.

Prunty's running mate, Curran, is a trauma surgeon at Morristown Medical Hospital who served in the U.S. Marine Corps and as a Jersey City police officer before going to medical school, according to the New Jersey Globe. His wife, Kathleen Curran, is also a former Jersey City Ward A councilwoman.

For a fourth time, Mary O'Connor is running for re-election on the Township Committee. O'Connor grew up in Cranford and later raised her daughter there as a single mom. Three years ago, O'Connor cited affordable housing and flooding among the top issues facing Cranford.

O’Connor also ran for Union County Commissioner in 2021 and gained the most votes out of anyone in Cranford.

Her running mate, Stulpin, ran for the committee in 2020 but she and Republican Regina Black lost to Democrats Brian Andrews and Jason Gareis by over 1,300 votes, according to New Jersey Globe.

Stulpin has lived in Cranford for most of her adult life and has served on numerous local committees.

The primary election will take place on June 7, and the Union County Clerk will conduct primary drawing both in-person and on livestream on April 14.

More information about Cranford's Township Committee and elections can be found on the town's website.

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