Brick Mayor's Race: GOP Candidate Brando Withdraws, Replaced By Scaturro

BRICK, NJ — Ruthanne Scaturro served on the Brick Township Council for eight years, then moved on to other things. But with the withdrawal of Domenick Brando as the Republican candidate for mayor of Brick, Scaturro is returning to the political fray.

Scaturro, 66, was selected Tuesday night to replace Brando as the mayoral candidate, the Brick Republican County Committee announced. Scaturro is one of three candidates seeking to unseat incumbent Mayor John Ducey. Also running are independents Rob Canfield and Anthony Matthews.

Brando announced Monday that he was withdrawing from the race; the committee's announcement said he said he has developed a serious medical condition that may require surgery and a lengthy recovery, and did not want to "jeopardize his running mates by being an absentee candidate.”

Scaturro served on the Township Council from 2003 to December 2011 but was defeated in a bid for re-election when Democrats including Ducey swept the council race. She is a retired controller of Ferguson Enterprises and lives in Lions Head South. She also sits on the Ocean County Board of Health, where her term is scheduled to end in 2019.

"After very serious consideration, the decision to return to public life was based on my observation that our once beautiful and safe town has deteriorated the past four years under Mayor Ducey’s leadership,” Scaturro said. She promises "an energetic and a viable campaign with the support of the Republican Party and any and all residents who believe we can build a better Brick together," the committee said.

Ruthanne Scaturro, Domenick Brando, photos via Team Brick Township campaign page