Four battle for one-year term for mayor McCormac says his experience will serve residents well BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer Democratic mayoral candidate John E. McCormac The man who was once "boy mayor" back in the 1970s now wants the job for good. "I've always wanted to be mayor, since I was a Boy Scout growing up in Menlo Park Terrace," said Democratic mayoral candidate John E. McCormac. "It was always something that progressed into what I wanted to do. And after 10 years working in the Woodbridge administration as CFO and four years as state treasurer, I feel that the timing is right." McCormac said his top priority is to hold the line on property taxes for the citizens of Woodbridge. "To tell you the truth, it won't be easy," he said. "The municipality only has control of 20 percent of the tax bill. " Part of the answer lies in working cooperatively with the Board of Education, something his boss, former Mayor James E. McGreevey, did not do, McCormac said. The school board has control of 60 percent of a resident's total tax bill. "We will work together to see what can be shared services," he said. "The mayor and town council need to have a good working relationship with Superintendent Vinnie Smith and the Board of Education. We are on the same team." McCormac, who served as chief financial officer under former Mayor McGreevey for 10 years and became state treasurer when McGreevey became governor in 2002, said the township and the schools could share snowplowing and computer services. "We could provide some funding to the BOE for things they can't necessarily get to," he said. "We should take a lead and find ways to consolidate." McCormac said a town like Woodbridge with varied sections is why consolidation would work. "Every section has different post offices and fire districts," he said. McCormac, 48, of Guernsey Lane in Colonia, is running to complete the late Mayor Frank G. Pelzman's unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31, 2007. Pelzman, 71, died suddenly of acute melanoma on June 29 at his Avenel home. McCormac announced his intention to challenge Pelzman for the mayor seat in 2007 last Jan. 17, his last day on the job as state treasurer. He made the announcement while he spoke on radio station 101.5 FM. McCormac was the only person to seek the Democratic nomination in August, after Pelzman died. The next mayor will replace state Sen. Joseph Vitale, who has served as interim mayor since August and will serve until Nov. 14. McComac said another top priority would be to maintain residents' quality of life. "This is an issue in every section of Woodbridge," he said. "For Oak Tree Road and the surrounding area in Iselin, we need a sensible infrastructure pedestrian flow. There needs to be a dialogue between the people. People should not be speeding up and down the streets. Illegal housing has been a big problem in Iselin, more so than any other section." There also needs to be fair enforcement of the law, McCormac said. "Businesses should be inspected at various times, such as [noon] to 8 p.m. rather than the standard time," he said. "It's more likely to catch code violations, but if the businesses are following the rules, they should be left alone." The business district on Oak Tree Road in Iselin is not the only area with issues, McCormac said. Others include Inman Avenue in Colonia, New Brunswick Avenue in Fords and Rahway Avenue in Avenel. His third priority is attracting new businesses to Route 1 and getting rid of buildings that have become eyesores, McCormac said. "We would definitely encourage appropriate development," he said. "There are buildings on Route 1 south that are boarded up, and why should there be boarded-up buildings? They cause a big eyesore. We can put restaurants and car dealerships. Smart planning will make this work if we work with the owners. We want businesses to come to us." The off-track wagering facility, which has been an ongoing issue for the past few months, is slated to be built in Fords by next summer. Unlike his opponents, McCormac thinks the OTW is an appropriate use for the site. "As mayor, my opinion comes secondary to the residents of the town," he said. "Now we have to make sure that they [the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority] are good neighbors and the facility is run properly." McCormac has been a Woodbridge resident since 1960. "My parents still live in the very same house I grew up in, Menlo Park Terrace," he said. "When I got married, my wife Tammy and I bought our starter home in Iselin until I built my house in Colonia in 1995, where I reside with my wife and 16-year-old daughter Erin." McCormac received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Rutgers University. He received his master's degree in finance from St. John's University. McCormac worked as a public accountant at a large international accounting firm for eight years after college. In 1988, he started his own certified professional accounting business, which is now located on Greet Street. McCormac was the township's chief financial officer from 1992 to 2002. He also served as acting business administrator before he left to take the state treasurer's job. He has never held elected office beyond the position of municipal Democratic committeeman. "My proudest accomplishments working under Mayor McGreevey include the Woodbridge Community Center, the community playground and Woodbridge's Christmas in April playground," he said. need to have a good working relationship with Superintendent Vinnie Smith and the Board of Education. We are on the same team." McCormac, who served as chief financial officer under former Mayor McGreevey for 10 years and became state treasurer when McGreevey became governor in 2002, said the township and the schools could share snowplowing and computer services. "We could provide some funding to the BOE for things they can't necessarily get to," he said. "We should take a lead and find ways to consolidate." McCormac said a town like Woodbridge with varied sections is why consolidation would work. "Every section has different post offices and fire districts," he said. McCormac, 48, of Guernsey Lane in Colonia, is running to complete the late Mayor Frank G. Pelzman's unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31, 2007. Pelzman, 71, died suddenly of acute melanoma on June 29 at his Avenel home. McCormac announced his intention to challenge Pelzman for the mayor seat in 2007 last Jan. 17, his last day on the job as state treasurer. He made the announcement while he spoke on radio station 101.5 FM. McCormac was the only person to seek the Democratic nomination in August, after Pelzman died. The next mayor will replace state Sen. Joseph Vitale, who has served as interim mayor since August and will serve until Nov. 14. McComac said another top priority would be to maintain residents' quality of life. "This is an issue in every section of Woodbridge," he said. "For Oak Tree Road and the surrounding area in Iselin, we need a sensible infrastructure pedestrian flow. There needs to be a dialogue between the people. People should not be speeding up and down the streets. Illegal housing has been a big problem in Iselin, more so than any other section." There also needs to be fair enforcement of the law, McCormac said. "Businesses should be inspected at various times, such as [noon] to 8 p.m. rather than the standard time," he said. "It's more likely to catch code violations, but if the businesses are following the rules, they should be left alone." The business district on Oak Tree Road in Iselin is not the only area with issues, McCormac said. Others include Inman Avenue in Colonia, New Brunswick Avenue in Fords and Rahway Avenue in Avenel. His third priority is attracting new businesses to Route 1 and getting rid of buildings that have become eyesores, McCormac said. "We would definitely encourage appropriate development," he said. "There are buildings on Route 1 south that are boarded up, and why should there be boarded-up buildings? They cause a big eyesore. We can put restaurants and car dealerships. Smart planning will make this work if we work with the owners. We want businesses to come to us." The off-track wagering facility, which has been an ongoing issue for the past few months, is slated to be built in Fords by next summer. Unlike his opponents, McCormac thinks the OTW is an appropriate use for the site. "As mayor, my opinion comes secondary to the residents of the town," he said. "Now we have to make sure that they [the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority] are good neighbors and the facility is run properly." McCormac has been a Woodbridge resident since 1960. "My parents still live in the very same house I grew up in, Menlo Park Terrace," he said. "When I got married, my wife Tammy and I bought our starter home in Iselin until I built my house in Colonia in 1995, where I reside with my wife and 16-year-old daughter Erin." McCormac received a bachelor's degree in accounting from Rutgers University. He received his master's degree in finance from St. John's University. McCormac worked as a public accountant at a large international accounting firm for eight years after college. In 1988, he started his own certified professional accounting business, which is now located on Greet Street. McCormac was the township's chief financial officer from 1992 to 2002. He also served as acting business administrator before he left to take the state treasurer's job. He has never held elected office beyond the position of municipal Democratic committeeman. "My proudest accomplishments working under Mayor McGreevey include the Woodbridge Community Center, the community playground and Woodbridge's Christmas in April playground," he said.