In Edison, Choi rolls out his team

EDISON – Mayor Jun Choi formally kicked off his reelection campaign on a tele-conference call this afternoon and announced his reform team council slate.

“We will continue to protect the taxpayers of Edison,” said Choi. “We have downsized government by 10% in my three and a half years, but we need to do more.”

The mayor’s running with 120 county committee candidates and two freeholder candidates. The latter are not running an active campaign, said Choi – but are there simply to secure the line for the Choi team. 

Choi’s council candidates are Rachel Callen, 35, a middle school language educator at RPRY Yeshiva School; Meiling Kravarik, 46, president of a local realty company; and retired Union County Prosecutor’s Office Captain Edward Fitzgerald, 52. 

As the retired Union County government worker on the team, Fitzgerald noted his expertise at dealing with agencies – federal, state, county. 

“I’ve been involved in Democratic politics my entire life,” he said. “To some extent, I was precluded from doing that. Now that I’m retired, I have a chance to give back to the community. If someone wants to look at that as a negative, that’s their right.”

Choi pegged Fitzgerald as a longtime Edison resident who has not been part of local machine party politics.

“The first thing I look for in my administration is competence, and I have chosen a group of people who have skills and talents that will balance one another,” said Choi. “Each of these individuals brings that perspective (of insistence on integrity and competence).” Referring to Kravarik, the mayor added, “You don’t start a multi-million company because you lack skills."

He also lauded Callen and Fitzgerald.

“I do believe that philosophically all three of these candidates share the opinion that this town needs significant changes,” said Choi. “We need fiscal responsibility, and we need to become a model for management. Edison is one of most diverse communities not only ethnically but also from a socio-economic standpoint. I have chosen a team that represents every facet of Edison. (If they win), we will have four females and three males on the council - every major ethnic group, and individuals with high integrity. That is what a model of democracy should be in this country."

Choi and his candidates are vying for the backing of the Democratic Party against Councilwoman Toni Ricigliano and her team in the June Primary. Ricigliano has the backing of the local party organization.