Meet the Candidates: Brian Tyrrell

On Nov. 8, residents in Galloway Township will go to the polls to vote on three seats that carry four-year terms on township council. Six candidates are vying for these three seats, and over the course of the next week, Galloway Patch will take a look at each candidate, one a day, in alphabetical order.

Name: Brian Tyrrell

Political Party: Republican

Why are you running?

Galloway Township has provided my family and I with a phenomenal place to live.  I’d like to give back a little, to serve the community in which I am raising my family.  Running for a seat on Council, I think, is a noble way of giving back to the residents of the township.  I feel that my life experiences, both professionally and personally, have prepared me to do this.

What do you feel are the most pressing issues?

I’m very concerned about unemployment, depreciating home values, stagnant wages and increasing costs to households. These are challenging times for the residents of Galloway Township. The residents of the township can’t afford to see their taxes raised more than they are. We need to hold the line on property taxes such that we don’t further burden our constituents. We also need to be prepared for businesses when they decide the time is right to move to Galloway. We need to be able to attract good business to the community that can help to alleviate some of the tax burden of the property owners in town. That requires working with the business community on finding out how the township can better serve their current and future needs such that it is unmistakable to potential businesses that Galloway is a great place to conduct business.

What changes would you make to what the current council is doing?

I think it is imperative that our elected officials view their primary responsibility as providing a voice in government for the people. Being elected to Council does not make one the government, but rather a representative of the people to government. I will promise to keep open lines of communication with all of the residents of the township to ensure that their collective needs are represented in the operation of the township.

What are some of the positive things you believe the current council is doing?

The current Council has been able to stabilize property taxes during a time when income from sources like development cannot be relied upon. This was not an easy task and took a lot of sacrifice, particularly from the employees of the township. I commend the council for making the tough decisions that needed to be made there to ensure that families in the township not be burdened further.

I think our Police Department has been doing more with less than anyone in the County, and that needs to be commended. Chief Moran has taken proactive steps to fighting crime that recognize the budgetary challenges that Galloway Township faces. All of the officers have served this township with professionalism and there are not enough words to express the gratitude that they deserve.

I think the Economic Development Committee has made significant progress on preparing the township for the eventual recovery of the economic climate. We need to be prepared to take advantage of growth when the national, state and local economies improve. The committee has, in conjunction with council, done much work on identifying areas for redevelopment. We’ve also worked with citizens of the township on streamlining the process for businesses to get information on what and where they can develop in the town.

What would you bring to council that no one else can bring, i.e. strengths, experience, etc.?

I have over two decades of experience in hospitality and tourism management, both on the job and in the classroom. I think this allows me a unique ability to understand the needs of our residents, many of whom work in the industry, as well as our business community, many of whom own and operate hospitality and tourism businesses in Galloway.

My research in hospitality, tourism and gaming puts me in a unique position to understand the changing dynamics of the casino industry and its impact on the regional economy. This enables me to better position Galloway for the next opportunity for ratable growth.

My experience with working with colleges throughout the country gives me a unique perspective on how growth at Stockton can be articulated into opportunities for the Township. We need to make better use of the Township’s two largest growing sectors, education and health care and be in a position to capitalize on the clean professional ratables that will evolve from both of these sources. Additionally, through my experience with the Galloway Township Business Association, I recognize an important ingredient for progress in Galloway is the cultivation of the public/private partnerships in town and the residual opportunities that both of these institutions provide uniquely to Galloway.  

There has been no real marketing of Galloway Township. I am the only candidate that has an intrinsic understanding of marketing destinations and I have the ability to manifest a working plan to promote Galloway as a place to bring business.

Finally, I feel that my ability to communicate with individuals from both sides of the political debate will allow me to accomplish these things in a bipartisan manner through putting the township and it’s residents first. I can make decisions that are in the best interest of the citizens of this township, regardless of party or political persuasion.

What is your political background? What offices have you held/run for in the past?

This is the first public office I have ever run for. I have had the opportunity to work with elected officials throughout my career as a professor, conducting research that helps our elected officials to make informed decisions with regard to the hospitality, tourism and gaming industries in the State of New Jersey. I have twice been elected to represent the faculty I work with on Faculty Senate; first at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, and currently with The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Personal Background

I chose to move to Galloway with my wife Amy and (now) three daughters because of the great quality of life that the township affords its residents. I coach my oldest daughter’s soccer team with Galloway United Community Soccer and am looking forward to coaching the younger girls as well. My parents are retired and have recently moved to the region to be closer to their grandchildren.

I have a Ph.D. in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University.  I have published a book on gaming in Atlantic City, detailing the 30-year history of the casino industry in New Jersey. I serve on the boards of the New Jersey Travel Industry Association and the Atlantic City Hotel and Lodging Association. I have been a professor for over a decade, and worked as a hotel manager for a decade before that.