Election Profile: Arthur A. Esposito For Edison Mayor

EDISON, NJ — Three candidates are vying for the support of the Democratic Party in this year's race for Edison Mayor.

The primary race for June 8, will be decided between newcomer Arthur "Al" Esposito, Edison Democratic Organization Chairman Mahesh Bhagia, and Councilman Samip 'Sam' Joshi.

Esposito has been a resident of Edison for over 60 years. He's running for office for the first time and hopes to bring positive change to the township.

Read more about his plans for Edison in this Patch Q&A:

Why are you seeking elective office?

To make changes that Edison needs

The single most pressing issue facing Edison is _____, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I propose we stop building unnecessary housing and put the efforts into building a new school for the children. We keep putting up housing with no thoughts about the children the new housing will bring to Edison, making our schools even more populated than they currently are.

There are currently two big talking points in Edison – the racist flyer incident from 2017 and the proposed warehouse in Silverlake that residents are opposing. What do you plan to do about/where do you stand on:

• Racist flyer incident: I do not support racism. We are a Community. If you think about our ancestors, we are all from other places in the world, making us the same. I do and will not stand for racism.
• Proposed warehouse in Silverlake: I do not believe this is necessary. It will cause more traffic and pollution to a quiet neighborhood. I stand with the residents of the Silverlake area and will do all I can to not let the construction happen.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I feel I am different and stand out because I have lived and worked in Edison for over 60 years. I raised my family here, and now my grandchildren are in the Edison schools. I am grounded and down to earth. I am one of you, the people of Edison. I am open and will always listen to the community.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I don’t think I would use the word “failed”, however, I think there are changes that could have and should have been done long before now to make Edison great again.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Other issues at hand are the shape of our roads, as I stated, overcrowding in our schools, and Police support. All these issues are important to me and to Edison. It’s time to take our town back and do what is right for the people of the future.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am a leader. I understand diversity. I have been a manager for different organizations and worked with different people. I know how to handle other’s points of view and I know how to deal with obstacles that may come my way.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

To always be myself, do what is right, and stand up for the people that need me and people who cannot be heard.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

As I have stated, I have lived and worked in Edison for over 60 years. Went through the school system, along with my four siblings, my wife, my three children and now my grandchildren. I have been married for 43 years. I understand the issues we face on a daily basis. I have two daughters, one is a teacher and one works at Rutgers University. My son is an Edison Police officer. We all love the place we call home, but over the years, Edison has changed. Some changes for the better but some not. I would like to make Edison a place we can be proud of again. We are the third largest municipality in New Jersey, so we do not go unnoticed. I vow to do all that is in my power, along with you, to make our town a great one. Our children and grandchildren should get the opportunity we had, to live in a place where they are safe, learn to the best of their ability and flourish as a member of the Edison Community.