East Brunswick councilman faces Republican challenger

A Republican, claiming East Brunswick has been run by a Democratic machine, is vying to fill the final year of Mayor David Stahl's old council position.

A Democrat, saying he's bipartisan with a strong sense of community, wants to continue to sit in the seat he was appointed to in January.

Councilman Matthew Korten and challenger Camille Ferraro -- both longtime township residents who have raised families there and been civically active -- are reluctant to take jabs at each other.

Ferraro is a 60-year-old retired U.S. Customs Service officer who moved to East Brunswick with her husband in 1985. Ferraro worked for the agency for 30 years, and spent the last 10 reading trade contracts. She was one of 40 advisers to government attorneys who wrote trade agreements, she said.

"I was trained to look for the weaknesses in contracts," said Ferraro, who raised one son.

That's why, she said, she will be able to find careless spending in township budgets. She blasts the township for what she perceives as mismanagement of taxpayer money. As examples, she points to the sale of the Golden Triangle, now the subject of litigation that may require the township to spend millions buying back the land, and revenue issues with a police range.

"If I ran my household in the same way they ran the township, I'd be on the street with a tin can," Ferraro said, saying Democrats have hidden money troubles from the public.

"I want to give back to the community," she said. "I want to serve the community in a very tangible way."

Korten, a father of three boys raised in town, said he is a community-minded person who has East Brunswick in his "DNA." He's been involved with many sports clubs and local boards, and said one of his priorities is continuing to push for more recreation and youth sports activities....