The mayoral race in Delran will pit current Democratic incumbent Mayor Gary Catrambone against Republican candidate Harry “Barnes” Hutchins Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.
Name: Gary Catrambone
Age: 66
How many years have you lived in Delran Township: Almost 52
Family: Married with three daughters
School and degree: I was in the first graduating class of Delran High School and graduated from then-Glassboro State College.
Profession: Manager of the Medford Motor Vehicle Commission office. Before that, I worked for 10 years as the vice president of marketing for a technology company in the mortgage industry. I am also an active entertainment business owner and have been for five decades.
Catrambone is currently mayor. If reelected this year, it will be his second term.
Community involvement: Founding and lifetime member, Delran Historical Society; member of township council from 2008 to 2020, president from 2008 to 2010 and 2012 to 2020; planning board member; member, Knights of Columbus–St. John Neumann Council 1436; Member of St. Charles Borromeo parish, former director of communications for the ministry, and carnival volunteer. While attending the township’s meetings in 1998, I felt a need for more people to be involved and for the residents to be better informed. In 2000, I created the first community-oriented website that brought voter information, meeting schedules, meeting minutes and more to the Delran residents.
Why are you running for an elected seat? Councilman Lynn Jeney, former councilman Tom Morrow and I are all decades-long residents of Delran. This is our home. We have all served this community and our Delran family in numerous and diverse ways throughout our lives here, and we continue to work to preserve the town for future generations. Our goal is for every child who grew up in Delran to have the option to come back home to raise their children here if they choose to. We take the planning and preparation of Delran’s future seriously. It takes diligence to continue to maintain stability as we continue to improve services, outreach and infrastructure. Governing is not about the terms we serve, it’s not about the next four years. It’s about the next 40.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? Managing a township involves much more than a single area of concern. Everything relates to everything else in the cascade of issues in a township. However, maintaining tax stability while improving services and infrastructure for our residents is always at the forefront of our minds. We also look at the big picture of planning for the future. I can say that anyone interested in knowing more about how we are securing Delran’s future should visit delran.net and they can read in depth about each issue, where we’ve been and where we’re going next.
Name: Harry “Barnes” Hutchins
Age: 55
How many years have you lived in Delran Township? Seven
Family: Married with two sons
Profession: My professional journey has been deeply rooted in community service and business development. I began my career in apartment complex management, where I spent 20 years honing my skills in property management. After that, I transitioned to car sales, working for 15 years at FC Kerbeck. I learned the nuances of customer service, negotiation, and how to build lasting relationships – all of which are essential in public service. My time at Kerbeck reinforced my commitment to ethical business practices and community engagement, as I actively participated in local charity events and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of our residents. Most recently, I took a leap into entrepreneurship by acquiring a partnership in a town business.
Is this the first time you have run for mayor?: Yes. As I campaign, I am committed to leveraging my background to create policies that prioritize community engagement, economic development and support for local businesses. My professional journey has equipped me with the tools to not only address the current challenges we face, but to build a better future for all residents.
Community involvement: Since making Delran Township my home, my wife and I established roots in the community, working to build up our neighborhood. Every year we organize a local contest, open to all residents, called Delran’s Got Talent, where members of our community come together and show off their singing skills. Since acquiring a business in town, we have begun a mathematics-based program, partnering with our local schools to have students come together and learn math through billiards. We are thrilled to see the kids engaged and excited about learning, and we hope to inspire a new generation of problem solvers who will become Delran’s future leaders.
Why are you running for an elected seat? I am asking for your vote for mayor because our town deserves a fresh voice and new perspective. My diverse background in budgeting, collaboration and community engagement has equipped me to address our challenges effectively. I believe that with innovation and decisive action, my team can revitalize our town and ensure a better future for all.
What is one area you would like to concentrate on if elected? The biggest area we need to focus on is our failing township infrastructure. Our roads need to be repaired, and we need to stop the endless flooding and fix the never-ending traffic issues that have been caused by over-development. With fresh eyes on the budget and a focus on financial management, we should be able to make changes to improve our finances, fix infrastructure and make Delran the place it used to be.
