Mayor Button, Running Mates Drop Out of Council Race

Following weeks of internal deliberation, Mayor John Button has decided to drop out of the race for Moorestown council, along with his running mates Elaine Goralski and Randy Cherkas.

Button cited two primary reasons for his withdrawal: a desire to spend more time focusing on business and family, and the progress council has made on major projects during his tenure, much of it in the last few months (and weeks).

“I have had a very, very busy summer, between my activities with the township to my business life,” said Button, who serves as CEO for PESA, LLC. “At some point, you have to take a step back. I do really owe my business partners, and maybe even my family, more of my life.”

Just last week, council took the first steps toward resolving two longstanding issues by approving, on first reading, ordinances to and the . Those actions, coupled with the () imminent —and the —also heavily influenced Button’s decision.

“We’ve made progress on some of the issues that concerned me,” he said. “I can’t guarantee anything, but I certainly hope (we’re moving toward resolutions).”

Button, who began serving on council in 2009, said he had given his run for a second term a great deal of thought over the last few weeks—a fact his running mates were well aware of.

He said Goralski and Cherkas were among the many people who asked him to run , and were to the Democratic and Republican tickets.

However, the trio were intending to run as a team, and when Button decided to withdraw—a decision he said he officially made Tuesday—Goralski and Cherkas followed suit.

“I don’t want to be so shallow as to suggest they were running because I was running,” Button insisted, but said it was a “fair characterization” that his running mates would have supported his decision either way.

When reached for comment via email, Cherkas said he had no other comment beyond the mayor’s own words. Goralski could not immediately be reached for comment.

As for how his bow-out will affect the council race, Button said it “remains to be seen.”

“I would imagine (the other candidates) are both going to view this as a little simpler,” he said.

The mayor wanted to make it clear he’s as committed as ever to the township and to finishing out his term in the most productive way possible.

Button said he would make himself available to whoever is elected to the next council for information and guidance, but added he doesn’t want to “get in the way” of his successors.

“I have really enjoyed an awful lot of what I’ve done and what I’ve been exposed to in this job,” he said, mentioning presiding over marriages and speaking to various community groups as some of the highlights. “It was a great chapter in my life.”

Click on the PDF above to read Mayor Button’s full letter announcing his withdrawal.

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