Candidate Profile

My name is Brandon Russell and I am the independent candidate for Mayor of South Amboy.

Brandon Russell, Candidate for Mayor of South Amboy – Line I

I’m running for Mayor for five core reasons:

1. Growing up in SA has been a privilege and the community that raised me needs fresh leadership now more than ever.
2. Our infrastructure is not strong enough to handle the pending 1,500+ unit apartment building known as the Manhattan Beach Project.
3. Irresponsible and unnecessary tax breaks are draining funds from the school system while increasing property taxes every year
4. Current leadership has no interest in working with our citizens and would rather operate behind closed doors.
5. Our school system and businesses need more city sponsored support through career programs, parking solutions, and a reliable marketing strategy.

As a lifelong resident, Eagle Scout, volunteer coach, and college graduate, I believe I am the best candidate to handle the issues our community is facing. My diverse work history has taught me how to adapt and my drive for success is unmatched.

I recently read an editorial written by Mayor Henry in another newspaper and I was disappointed to see how he dismissed my concerns as scare tactics.

The way Mayor Henry perceives his tenure as Mayor does not match up with how the citizens in South Amboy feel.

I have spent the past six months talking to citizens and business owners all around SA, listening to their concerns, and realizing I’m not the only one concerned about the trajectory of South Amboy’s future.

I’m afraid this is our last chance to elect someone who will take South Amboy in a new direction. The window for creating positive change is closing as four years from now, there will be little left to build on.

The plan I have for South Amboy includes economic redevelopment, civic engagement, and more opportunities for the kids, residents, and business owners.

When elected, I will spend the first few months in office conducting a complete analysis of our budgets and creating a brand for South Amboy through community input.

We must eliminate all wasteful spending while finding innovative ways to operate more effectively.

We will increase transparency through a Mayor’s Blog that is consistently updated, status updates on grant applications, recaps from closed session meetings, and a committee made up of first responders, residents, community leaders, and city officials.

Politicians tend to make government more complicated than it needs to be and I would like to bring us back to the basics. No party interests, no backroom deals, no tax breaks for housing projects.

Under my leadership, we will focus on the needs of our residents and listen to their concerns. We will operate city government with complete efficiency, creating a version of South Amboy that works for all our residents.

The Mayor may call this a scare tactic but the Manhattan Beach Project has the potential to bring in 3,000 more residents to a City that currently has less than 9,000. Before we allow a population increase like this, we must conduct more studies, share them with our residents, and strengthen our infrastructure.

We must provide more support to our first responders and find better incentives to increase membership. Our volunteers are the backbone of our community and we can’t go forward with a project like this until they have all the support they need.

There are legitimate environmental concerns regarding the toxins on the property where the Manhattan Beach Project will be built.

The Mayor wants me to “be careful” about what I say online and in the paper, but the only way who should be careful is him.

There are legitimate questions surrounding the tax breaks that Mayor Henry has been a part of over the past 30 years of his time as a city official.

1. How much has the school system received from these deals, if anything at all?
2. If we are making money on these deals, why do property taxes still go up every year?
3. Where did the surplus come from and how does he plan to use it?

These are just some of my concerns and since you have rejected my debate requests, I am forced to ask you here.

Mayor Henry, you can continue to dismiss my concerns or you can own up to what you’ve done during your time as a city official. It’s your move, Mr. Mayor.

For the citizens of South Amboy who are reading this, I won’t ask you to vote for me on November 6th this year.

I just ask you to make your voice heard and vote for the candidate who you believe will fight for the best interests’ of South Amboy’s residents, kids, and business owners.

I ask you to review the plans of every candidate and make an informed decision.

I don’t like making promises until I can back them up with facts so the only promise I will make today is I will always give it to you straight.

The only way to hold politicians accountable is by asking questions and I will never lead you astray because I have nothing to hide.

I must remind you of the importance of voting because I was once naïve enough to believe my vote didn’t matter. I’ve since learned that the ONLY way to effect positive change is through voting in honest politicians with good intentions and strong ethics.

On November 6th, I hope you make your voice heard and if you have any questions, please email me at Russellformayor@outlook.com. If you ever see me walking our dog or at community events, please don’t hesitate to start a conversation with me. I am always open to more ideas and the best way to improve our city is through civic engagement.

Voting independent is voting for change!

Sincerely,

Brandon Russell

Independent candidate for Mayor of South Amboy

Plan of Action…

When elected as Mayor of South Amboy:

1. We will shift the focus to economic redevelopment by filling vacant properties with businesses first, only relying on housing projects if deemed necessary.
2. We will increase membership on the First Aid Squad and in the Fire Department by introducing more incentives.
3. We will continue hiring more police officers, including on a part-time basis for overtime relief; creating more jobs and giving our officers opportunities for time off.
4. We will fight the opioid epidemic through increased education and more opportunities for youth engagement, and we will destroy the stigma that surrounds addiction.
5. We will explore the possibility of installing a junior police academy.
6. We will analyze the city financials to find out where taxpayer dollars are being misspent or wasted.
7. We will go to the high school monthly to speak with students and teachers about how to improve the school system.
8. We will offer complete transparency through recorded meetings and a consistent blog.
9. I will continue to work with the South Amboy Youth Athletic Association to build a youth sports culture that teaches kids how to work hard and reach their goals.
10. We will answer all citizen questions/complaints with respect, honesty, and eagerness.
11. We will see to it that our parks be updated with new equipment, fresh fencing, and find new ways to utilize our parks.
12. We will form a committee focused on cleaning up the city, picking up litter on the beach, and addressing community concerns.
13. We will create jobs for South Amboy residents by bringing in new businesses and take advantage of e-commerce.
14. I will pursue every state and federal grant that South Amboy is eligible for, allowing the City to use the surplus for tax relief.
15. We will cease all PILOT negotiations and focus on getting housing developers to pay their fair share of property taxes. (see the next page for background on the PILOT deals)
16. We will GUARANTEE that the school is receiving the proper percentage of funding received from the PILOT deals.
17.  I will make myself available for citizen/business owner meetings as frequently as possible.
18. We will agree on a “brand” for South Amboy as a community through polls and citizen input.
19. We will find new businesses that both align with that brand and are able to cross-promote with our current businesses.
20. Under my leadership, we will do things the right way, with complete transparency; while only making decisions that benefit as many South Amboy residents as possible.

If you have any questions about parts of my platform, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at russellformayor@outlook.com.