Independent File To Run Against Mayor's Ticket In Gloucester Twp. Elections

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Several school board members are among the independent candidates who filed to run against Gloucester Township's incumbent mayor and council members in November's General Elections.

Mayor David R. Mayer and three Township Council members faced uncontested Democratic primaries Tuesday in their re-election bids. There were no candidates running as Republicans for either office.

But two independent candidates will seek the mayorship, while three are running for council.

Keith Gibbons, a Gloucester Township Board of Education member, is one of the independent mayoral candidates. He is running with the three independent council candidates under the "United For Change" banner.

Gibbons frequently attends council meetings and has long been critical of the township's public officials, voicing opinions and sharing updates on the GT Observer Podcast that he launched.

Last year, Gibbons led a campaign opposing the township's efforts to sell its sewer system to New Jersey American Water. The campaign was successful, with 4 of 5 voters rejecting the council-approved sale in a referendum.

His ticket includes three independent council candidates: Gloucester Township School Board President Jen O'Donnell, retired police officer Nick Rehrig, and AJ Torres, who owns AJ's Auto Detailing in Blackwood.

Running under the "United For Change" banner, their shared platform includes imposing term limits for the township's elected officials and restoring the Gloucester Township Municipal Utilities Authority (GTMUA).

Joseph Brocco, of the township's Clementon section, is also listed as an independent candidate for mayor. He did not submit a ballot slogan and doesn't appear to be running with any other candidates. Patch's efforts to find more information about his candidacy were unsuccessful.

Mayer has been the township's mayor since 2010 and is seeking re-election to a fifth term. His Democratic ticket includes Council Members Carolyn Grace, Michelle Winters and Helen Albright Troxell.

Primary Election Day was also the deadline for independents to submit petitions for candidacy in the General Election. The petitions will be subject to review until June 19.

School board elections will take shape later this summer, since July 28 is the filing deadline for candidates.

Here are the current candidate fields for Gloucester Township's upcoming elections, including submitted ballot slogans for independents:

Mayor (four-year term, vote for one)

• David R. Mayer* (Democratic Party)
• Joseph Brocco (independent)
• Keith R. Gibbons, "United For Change" (ind.)

Township Council (four-year term, vote for three)

• Carolyn Grace* (Dem.)
• Michelle Winters* (Dem.)
• Helen Albright Troxell* (Dem.)
• Nicholas J. Rehrig, "United For Change" (ind.)
• Jennifer O'Donnell, "United For Change" (ind.)
• Arnaldo (AJ) Torres, "United For Change" (ind.)

*denotes incumbents