3 Republicans Selected To Run For Bridgewater Township Council

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Bridgewater Republican Municipal Committee voted unanimously to select the three incumbent council members, Council President Filipe Pedroso, Council Vice President Allen Kurdyla, and Councilman Howard Norgalis, as the Republican candidates for Township Council.

Kurdyla

"I consider serving on the Bridgewater Township Council both privilege and honor. As a Councilman I realize that I represent all Bridgewater residents and that each resident has an equal voice when it comes to concerns related to land use or municipal services," said Kurdyla.

Kurdyla moved to Bridgewater in 1967. That same year, Kurdyla volunteered with the Finderne Fire Department, has continuously done so to this day, and held numerous leadership positions including Chief. In 1978, Kurdyla was elected Commissioner to the Board of Fire Commissioners of Fire District #4, and continues to serve, currently as Board Chairman. After serving as Co-Chair of the Finderne Advisory Group for the Bridgewater Promenade Project, in 2003 Kurdyla was first elected to the Bridgewater Council.

For many years, Kurdyla has been the Council liaison to the Open Space Committee, and has led the group in the acquisition of hundreds of acres of open space. A strident community volunteer and leader, Kurdyla has dedicated his life to community and public service. Kurdyla is semi-retired and working as Senior VP of Business Development for a document image company. In 2020 Kurdyla celebrated 50 years of marriage, and is currently enjoying spending family time with his family including 6 grandchildren.

Norgalis

"Public Service is a time-honored tradition in our Country. Over the past decades, I have worked in various volunteer and elected positions in Bridgewater and in Somerset County. I have treated each of these tasks as important parts of the fabric that is our Bridgewater community," said Norgalis.

"I again commit to the residents of Bridgewater that if elected to another Council term I will tirelessly and honorably work on your behalf to the very best of my ability. This is the town I Iove and which I have called 'home' for more than 45 years."

Norgalis has been a Bridgewater resident since 1975 and has a long history of giving back to the community by serving and volunteering with numerous organizations, including Fire Emergency Services, Habitat for Humanity home building, County Search and Rescue, Blood donor, Medical Reserve Corp., Fire Commissioner, serving on the Board of Directors of Somerset County 200 Club and Centerbridge I, and Chaplaincy to the Elderly.

Prior to being elected to the Council in 2004, Norgalis served as the Chairman of the Planning Board and had 6 years of experience on the Zoning Board of Adjustments. Norgalis holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and worked for 39 years at AT&T, retiring as District Finance Manager. Norgalis put his finance and accounting expertise to use by serving as a liaison to the Bridgewater Budget Finance Committee. Norgalis served 37 years as a volunteer firefighter with the North Branch Volunteer Fire Co. and was its first member to receive the Life Time Achievement Award.

Pedroso

"I love this Township and have been lucky to call it home for practically my entire life. Serving the residents of Bridgewater is a tremendous honor, is very humbling, and a responsibility that I take very seriously," said Pedroso.

Pedroso grew up in Bridgewater, moving to the Township in 1977 when he was 7 years old. Pedroso was a volunteer with the Finderne First Aid and Rescue Squad and served in numerous leadership positions including Trustee and First Lieutenant. For over 10 years, Pedroso was a member of Zoning Board of Adjustments, and was elected to serve as its Vice-Chairman. For over 13 years, Pedroso has volunteered on the Centerbridge II senior housing building’s Board of Directors. In 2013, Pedroso was elected to the Bridgewater Council. Pedroso is married and father of 4 children.

Pedroso has served continuously on the Bridgewater Budget Finance Committee, and has been liaison on various committees including the Somerset County Regional Business Partnership, Creative Arts Committee, Regional Center Plan Endorsement Committee, Bridgewater Commons, and others. Pedroso holds a law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry from Rutgers University, and is currently the founder and CEO of Giftapart, an innovative social ecommerce technology company.

"Allen Kurdyla, Howard Norgalis, and Filipe Pedroso are outstanding public servants who have achieved wide-ranging success as Council members. On behalf of the Bridgewater Republican Municipal Committee, I offer my complete support for their re-election and pledge the necessary resources for a successful campaign," said Michael Kirsh, chairman of the BridgewaterRepublican Municipal Committee.

"Allen, Howard and Filipe have done an outstanding job leading Bridgwater during a very difficult year. They bring considerable expertise and decades of public service to the table. They have my full support and that of the Somerset County Republican Organization," said Tim Howes, chairman of the Somerset County Republican Organization.

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