Fiscal Discipline, Transparency Priorities for Committee Leaders

Chatham Township has published a news release about the appointments of Committeeman Kevin Sullivan as mayor and Committeeman Curt Ritter as deputy mayor, with statements from the officials.

The yearlong appointments were made at the reorganization meeting Jan. 3 by a 3-2 vote. They replaced outgoing Mayor Bailey Brower Jr. and Deputy Mayor Robert Gallop.

"I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve the residents of Chatham Township as Mayor for the next year," Sullivan said. "I look forward to working with each of our Committee members as we work together as a team to address the important issues facing our residents today.

"Our focus once again will be on maintaining the fiscal discipline that the Committee has displayed in the past, while delivering essential services and improvements to Township residents. I am proud of the fact that the municipal portion of our residents' tax bill over the past three years has been held to a 0% tax increase.  The challenges to effectively managing the budget increase every year, particularly with rising healthcare costs, but meeting those challenges will be our top priority."

Ritter said he appreciates the opportunity to serve as deputy mayor.

“I would like to thank the residents of Chatham Township for their support and the Committee for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity," he said. "I look forward to bringing change, increased communication and transparency to our local government and working together with Mayor Sullivan and the entire Committee to Build a Better Chatham.”

Sullivan is employed by Newedge USA, a global financial firm with offices in New York City, the news release says. He was previously a captain in the United States Marine Corps, and is entering his second year of service on the Township Committee. He has been a member of the Chatham Township Planning Board and has been active in religious, recreational and civic activities. He is a race director for the St. Patrick's Community 5K and a 3rd degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He has lived in Chatham Township for the past 24 years with his wife, Cindy. His children have attended St. Patrick's School in Chatham, Chatham High School and Delbarton High School, according to the news release.

Ritter is director of corporate communications for CIT Group Inc. He was previously the chief spokesperson and director of corporate communications for W. P. Carey and served as first deputy press secretary to Mayor Rudy Giuliani. He was a member of the Chatham Township Zoning Board of Adjustment and has been involved in community organizations including the Delbarton Alumni Association, where he served as president, and the Chatham Education Foundation, where he served as communications chair.

He currently serves as president of The Chatham Turkey Trot, a non-profit organization he founded to raise funds for the Chatham Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Diabetes Research Institute. Ritter has lived in Chatham for more than a decade with his wife, Jen. They have three children—Will, 10; Mollie, 9; and Grace, 6—who attend Lafayette and Southern Boulevard schools, the news release says.