Mayor John Ducey and challenger Domenick Brando. (Campaign Photos)
A former township councilman will challenge incumbent Mayor John Ducey this November.
Domenick Brando bested his primary opponent, Martin Ebert, with 1,734 votes compared to Ebert’s 724. Brando was endorsed by the official Republican organization, while Ebert ran as an “independent Republican.”
“I want to congratulate Marty,” Brando said. “He ran a good campaign, did a lot of work and got out there. He’s a good guy.”
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Brando said he will release details about his campaign platform in the coming weeks, but pledged his goal is to make Brick the safest city in America again – a title the township once held.
A former police officer, Brando said he is developing plans to reduce crime and tackle the ongoing heroin crisis that is affecting most of Ocean County’s municipalities.
Ducey, a Democrat who works as a local attorney, said Tuesday night he is ready for the race and plans on comparing his record over his first term to Brando’s council tenure.
“We’re going to run a great campaign based on what we have accomplished over the last three and a half years,” said Ducey, adding Brando was on the township council when red light cameras were introduced at several intersections in town, and when a 24 percent tax increase was approved by voters and public works services were threatened.
Brando said he and Ducey govern “from two different trains of thought.”
“Right off the bat, he’s got a huge surplus, and I think that money should go back to the taxpayers instead of just sitting in a bank account,” said Brando. “I’ve been pretty vocal on some of his policies and the problems that we have in Brick with crime. I have a different plan and different views on how to fix it and stop it – getting the drug dealers and crime out.”
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