Galloway Mayor Will Run Without Republican Club Support in November

Galloway Township Mayor Keith Hartman will run his re-election campaign without the support of the Galloway Township Republican League in November, party leader Terry Lucarelli confirmed Thursday afternoon.

After being named the by the party in February of this year, Hartman made to Galloway Patch last month that he no longer considered himself a Galloway Republican.

"We asked him to apologize and he didn't apologize," Lucarelli said. "Other members of council don't feel that way."

Hartman was nominated during the June 7 primaries, and cannot be replaced on the ballot. Lucarelli said Hartman would be moving forward with his own campaign in November.

Hartman did not return a call seeking comment Thursday afternoon.

Incumbent Councilman Tony Coppola and Brian Tyrell are running on the Republican ticket in the upcoming election.

The Democratic slate includes incumbent councilman Jim Gorman, as well as Kevin Krumaker and Jim McElwee.

Coppola respects the council's accomplishments with Hartman as mayor.

He also acknowledged the difficulties of running a campaign without the club's support.

"Running a campaign is difficult," Coppola said. "A lot gets done by the club."

Coppola also said he wishes policy and accomplishments were considered more heavily than outside factors.

"This is politics at its worst," Coppola said, "and it sickens me."