Cranford Township Committee Candidate Profile: Terrence Curran

CRANFORD, NJ — New Jersey's Primary Election Day is coming up on June 7, 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.

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

Patch sent out questionnaires to local candidates and will run profiles for those running this year.

Below are Democratic candidate Terrence Curran's answers:

Party Affiliation:

Democrat

Office Sought:

Town Committee

Education:

I attended St.Peter's Prep in Jersey City. After graduating, I joined the Marine Corps and served four years. During that time, I attended the Defense Language Institute Basic Korean Course before being deployed to the Persian Gulf. (I know) After finishing my enlistment, I joined the Jersey Police Department. I met Kathleen Kenny, who was a Jersey City School teacher and we were married. While working as a police officer, I attended New Jersey City University and received a B.S. in Criminal Justice. My son, John, was born in 2000. I completed post-baccalaureate courses in pre-med before attending New Jersey Medical School in Newark. I did my general surgery residency in New Brunswick at Robert Wood Johnson and during this time, my daughter, Jessica was born. I completed my training in Pittsburgh in Surgical Critical Care and then came back to NJ and started working at Morristown Medical Center, where I've worked since.

Occupation:

Trauma/Critical Care surgeon for 10 years. Prior to that I was a Jersey City Police Officer for 7 years.

Family:

I am married to Kathleen, who worked as a special education teacher and learning consultant before working as an aide to the Mayor of Jersey City for 10 years as a liaison to the public schools. I have a son John, 22, who is graduating from New Jersey City University this year with a degree in National Security Studies and a daughter, Jessica, 15, who is a freshman at Mount Saint Mary Academy in Watchung.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No.

Age:

52

Previous public office, appointive or elective:

Yes. I served on the Jersey City Public Schools Board from 2001-2006. I resigned in 2006 when I moved to Cranford.

Why are you seeking this office?

Government should make people's lives better. During the height of the pandemic, while I was taking care of hundreds of critically ill patients, I watched the political atmosphere devolve and complicate the response in a way that angered and bewildered me. I spent as much time as I could responding to the misinformation spreading through social media. I spent as much time as I could responding to the misinformation spreading through social media but always felt that I should be doing more.

During this time, I became more involved in the town government. I volunteered for committees such as the Green Team, the Environmental Committee and was asked to serve on the Health Commission. This year, I decided I would run for town committee because Cranford is facing multiple issues that impact quality of life for residents such as flooding, taxes, traffic volume and development. I want to serve on the town committee to address these issues and be a voice for the residents of Cranford and get things done to make life better in Cranford.

Cranford is facing multiple issues that impact quality of life for residents such as flooding, taxes, traffic volume and development. I want to serve on the town committee to address these issues and be a voice for the residents of Cranford and get things done to make life better in Cranford.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it

The single most pressing issue is development. This is a complicated issue with many factors but the most important factor is to keep the redevelopment plan under the control of the town, as agreed to in a 4-1 vote by the Town Committee in 2021, and working within the agreement while minimizing the impact of the increased development and population density of the town.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I see the continued resistance to the development plan the town has developed which both incumbents both voted for and the desire to continue legal challenges which have a near zero chance of succeeding as a major difference as a major difference between us.

Also, as a former police officer, my background gives me a unique perspective on Public Safety issues both from the police perspective as well as a private citizen. This is an area that I would like to focus on if elected.

Finally, public health has taken on a new focus in the last several years and as a physician who was intimately involved in the response to the pandemic, the experience I gained during that time gives me a unique frame of reference.

If you are challenging an incumbent, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community?

I see the contradictions between the votes to approve the redevelopment plans and the public comments against development as disingenuous. I also see the attempt to blame development for the flooding problems in Cranford as misleading. Cranford has suffered from flooding problems since at least the 1970's and what Cranford needs is solutions, not blame.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The main issues that effect Cranford besides development are flooding, traffic, schools and of course, taxes and public safety. I am sure that as I speak to more residents during the course of the campaign, more issues will come to light.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

While on the Jersey City School Board, I worked with the administration to make changes that improved the system wide inventory system to increase accountability, eliminated expenditures that were not part of the Board's mission, and advocated for solar panels on schools to reduce operating costs. My time as a police officer gives me a unique perspective on the importance of public safety. As a trauma surgeon, my responsibilities entail identifying problems that need to be addressed and taking the appropriate steps to do that. I think these skills would help me serve Cranford well.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

My grandmother had lots of good advice when I was a kid and one bit that I have always remembered and followed is "The less said, the easier mended." I think it is extremely pertinent in the current acrimonious political environment. The bitterness and divisiveness of national politics has trickled down to local politics at many school boards and town meetings around the country but Cranford has mostly managed to avoid that tone. I think civil conversation works much better to accomplish the goals that will serve the town best.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have always worked hard and treat people with respect. I will continue to do that during my campaign and if elected, while I serve the town of Cranford. My decisions as an elected official will always be for the benefit of Cranford.