Without Party Support, Mayor Will Still Run on His Own Record

With the summer drawing to a close and Labor Day around the corner, the attention of Galloway Township can now turn the fall elections and the who will be running for three open seats on council.

On the Democratic side, incumbent Councilman Jim Gorman will be joined by challengers Jim McElwee and Kevin Krumaker. Representing the Republican ticket will be incumbent Mayor Keith Hartman, incumbent Councilman Tony Coppola and challenger Brian Tyrrell.

As incumbents, Hartman, Coppola and Gorman are held accountable for the actions of the council and the changes it has brought to Galloway Township during their time in office. This is something Hartman welcomes.

“I’ll put our record up against the other municipalities,” Hartman said. “We’re doing well because we made the tough decisions, and we made those decisions because they were right.”

One tough decision the council made was to township employees one day a week for a year, but council was able to end the furlough earlier this year. Hartman is also proud of the

“I’m proud to have the most proactive police department in South Jersey,” Hartman said of a department currently operating with the minimum requirement of “I’m proud to have Chief (Pat) Moran. I have the utmost confidence in him, and with (Alan) Kane and (Chris) Doyle, we’re set with chiefs for probably the next two decades. That speaks volumes because 50 percent of budget is the police department. We need them in those positions and they’re doing an excellent job.”

He said he shares those successes with running mate Coppola, and believes Tyrrell would make a great councilman. He also said the successes he and his council, including Gorman, have seen are theirs, and not those of the Galloway Township Republican party.

“We’re the ones on the dais the second and fourth Tuesday of every month,” Hartman said.  “What does that have to do with the party?”

Hartman was nominated as a Republican during this year’s primaries, but will be running on his own.

In comments made to Galloway Patch in an article published on June 25, Hartman said he

He has stood by that statement, and in an interview conducted on Tuesday, Aug. 9, clarified that he considers himself a Republican at the county, state and national levels, but no longer feels his views are in line with that of the local party.

And now, with the help of some former members of the Galloway Township Republican Club, Hartman is running his own campaign.  

“I have about seven people helping right now, and there are another 12 or so engaged in doing something,” Hartman said of the still young campaign. “Some are disenfranchised with the local party, but they are firm supporters of the county, and they’re not the only ones to jump to my support. There are independents who are supportive of me.”

He said his will be a grassroots campaign that is receiving help from residents who support him and his record since he’s been in office.

“I’m going to do it on my own with the help of residents, voters and taxpayers to finance my campaign," Hartman said. “It will be more personal. There will be no obligation that goes along with needing to work the party line. I have always been conservative, and I will continue to support the county and state officials in office.”

Hartman said he anticipates his campaign will be successful and that ultimately, he’ll be able to “put my head on the pillow at night and know what I did was right.”

If reelected, Hartman will continue to serve as a Republican. He said he’s not out to create a separate party in Galloway Township.

“I’m encouraged people who are formerly of the Galloway Township Republican League support me,” Hartman said. “It’s unfortunate they were not out to support the Galloway Township Republican League to begin with, but it’s not my goal to create a separate party in Galloway Township.”