Bridgewater Mayor Reacts To Hayes' Announcement To Run As A Democrat For Mayor

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Mayor Matthew Moench shared his thoughts on the news that former Republican Dan Hayes will run for Mayor again, but this time under the banner of the Democratic party.

"Michael Kirsh, Tim Ring and I started on this journey in February of 2019 with the specific
intent of flushing out the special interests that had hijacked Dan Hayes’ failed administration and
returning our local government back to the people who actually live here. We succeeded in that
mission and it would be an understatement to say we welcome the contrast between Dan’s record
and the successes we’ve had over the last four years getting Bridgewater back on track," said Moench.

"Though he has switched parties, it is unlikely that he has switched his true allegiance, which has
always been to the developers, lobbyists, and insiders who have funded his campaigns from the
beginning and from whom he has always taken his marching orders. It is that shadowy group of
out-of-town special interests that are rejoicing today. Working together, we will fight hard to
make sure they have no cause to rejoice this November," continued Moench.

Hayes announced his intentions to run for Mayor on Wednesday night. He has received the endorsements of the Somerset County Democratic Committee and Bridgewater Democratic Municipal Committee. Read More: Former Bridgewater Mayor Dan Hayes To Run For Mayor Again

Hayes will be replacing Saad Toor as the Democratic candidate for Mayor. Toor is stepping aside and will now run for a council seat along with Marguerite Baranowski. While Gigi Ksiazak decided to remove herself from the township council race entirely.

Hayes was first elected as a Republican Councilman in 2010 and later elected as Mayor in 2012. Voters eventually ousted Hayes in the 2019 primary and voted instead for the current Republican Mayor Matthew Moench. Read More: Bridgewater Mayor Hayes Bids Farewell To Residents: Video

The controversial Center of Excellence project was the tipping point for voters at the time.

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