MEET THE COLUMN A TEAM PUTTING JAMESBURG FIRST!

DARIA LUDAS

Daria Ludas is a retired elementary school teacher who graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, Iselin.  Daria began her college education at Middlesex County College and went on to Kean University, where she received her BA in Early Childhood Education.

Daria entered the world of politics while living in Helena, Montana and working for a Legislative Session.  She was fascinated with the process and procedures of getting bills passed.  After she and her family moved back to New Jersey, she became involved and served on local boards in Jamesburg, including the Jamesburg Civic Association, the Jamesburg Public Library and the Jamesburg Democratic Organization.  She was elected to the Jamesburg Council in 2008, and is currently serving her fourth term.  She has served as Council President and  is responsible for re-establishing the Jamesburg Environmental Commission.  She established the Jamesburg Green Team, which helped Jamesburg achieve Sustainable Jersey Certification in 2019.   Daria has been a member of the Middlesex County Federation of Democratic Women since 2010 and is the current vice-president, and a past president.  Daria has been a Jamesburg resident for the past thirty two years.

COLEEN RUTSKY

Coleen Rutsky is positively charged about running for a third term in the Borough of Jamesburg. She is a graduate of Rider University with a BA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, with a Minor in Literature. She was born and raised in Jamesburg, and she and her husband Paul have raised three children in Jamesburg. Her oldest daughter is a high school History teacher in North Brunswick, her second daughter is a junior analyst for DWS, and her son is a junior at Monroe Township High School.

During her first two terms, Coleen has worked closely with Mayor Lowande and fellow Council Members and chaired various council committees. Her main goal has been to bring the Jamesburg community together through community service and town wide events. She has worked closely with the Garden Club and the Green Team to secure grants, and has adopted the role as caretaker of the four Borough planters in town. She is also a Trustee for The Dobenski Scholarship Fund, which recognizes and rewards students from Jamesburg for excelling in academics and sports.

Coleen believes in investing in Jamesburg and working together to make the community a better place. She has organized Food Truck Events and Community Clean-up events in town, and also helped organize and participate in holiday celebrations and ceremonies for the town throughout the year.

Community unity is one of her strongest driving forces. She will continue to fight and keep Jamesburg debt-free. Coleen will continue to help promote local businesses as well as secure grants for infrastructure improvements. She is committed to continue being fiscally responsible while also providing outstanding service for Jamesburg residents.

Coleen asks for your support so, together, we can make Jamesburg the best it can be.

PETER SHAUGHNESSY

Peter Shaughnessy lives in Jamesburg with his wife, Tina, and their two children. Peter has enjoyed serving his community for the past four years, first as a member of Jamesburg's school board, and as a council member for the past year. He is the current liaison to the Board of Education, and serves on the Combined Land Use Board and the Police Committee.

He is a teacher in the West-Windsor Plainsboro School District. In addition to teaching English, he is a writer and editor. Prior to moving to the classroom, Peter was the Founding Editor of Backstage.com, and was a news editor for US1 Publications. Peter is born and raised in New Jersey, with undergraduate degrees in English, Journalism, and Theater from Rutgers University. He has a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University.

In his time in public service, he wishes to help the outstanding leadership team of the Borough of Jamesburg to build community, keep Jamesburg proud! Peter is helping to organize the Borough's initiative for safe and socially distanced trick-or-treating for Halloween 2020.