Barlow only candidate for Spotswood mayor
BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer

Thomas Barlow

SPOTSWOOD - Though the municipal election is not untilMay 13, it appears likely that the successor to longtime Mayor Barry Zagnit will be Thomas Barlow.

Barlow, currently a borough councilman, is the only candidate for mayor, at least on the ballot. No one else filed a petition by the March 20 deadline to run for the seat,which Zagnit has filled for 12 years. Zagnit announced in January that he would not seek a fourth term.

But it's not just themayor's position that is uncontested. Councilman Edward Seely will run unchallenged to retain his place on the council, and John Shaughnessy is the only candidate seeking the other available council seat, which will be vacated by longtime Councilman James Shearn.

Themayor and council terms are for four years each.

Council President Curtis Stollen said this is the first election he can recall in which there was no contest for Borough Council seats. On the other hand, Zagnit, a retired borough police chief, did run uncontested in his three runs formayor, a position he's held since 1996.

Other potential candidates did obtain petitions from the borough clerk's office prior to this year's filing deadline, but only Barlow's was returned.

Barlow, an attorney, is a relative newcomer to borough politics. He was first elected to a six-month term on the Borough Council in 2005, and won a four-year term in 2006, when he was the top vote-getter among seven candidates. If Barlowis elected mayor, the council will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of his council term.

"I'm excited that I'm going to be the mayor," he said. "Having lived here my entire life, it's a tremendous privilege."

He said he considers the fact no one else decided to run for mayor as a sign that residents feel he will do a capable job.

"They feel the town is in good hands," he said, adding that he hopes to do as good a job as Zagnit did over the past 12 years.

The change in roles would take effect when the borough reorganizes in July.

Zagnit has said he felt the time was right for him to step aside, in part due to the enormous time commitment that the job requires. He said he has given fulltime attention to what is considered a part-time job as mayor, but this was made more difficult when he began working in the private sector recently.

Shearn will leave the council after 12 years of service. Seely,meanwhile, is seeking his second four-year term. Shaughnessy,who was edged out in a seven-way race for three council seats in 2006, is seeking his first term.

As for the lack of a contest for the council seats this year, Barlow said he feels potential challengers think that Seely and Shaughnessy will do a good job serving the town, and that they would have a good shot at winning even if challenged.

Stollen, who some thought would run for mayor this year, said he decided not to seek the post because he saw the time commitment it required of Zagnit. In addition, he said, "A lot of great things" have happened since Barlow began his council service, so he had no problem supporting him for mayor.

According to Stollen, since Barlow and CouncilwomanMarge Drozd were elected to council in 2005 and 2006, respectively, the governing body has been run in a professional, business-likemanner and with "little drama." That, he said, gives residents more confidence in the current members.

Both Stollen and Barloware pressing the state to allow Spotswood to make a change in its nonpartisanMay elections. Though uncontested, this year's election will cost the town about $30,000, something that would be avoided if Spotswood held its election as part of the general election inNovember. The borough is required by state law to poll its voters inMay under the town's adopted nonpartisan form of governance.