Ellen Dickson Launches Bid for Mayor

The Republican City Committee nominated Ellen Dickson as the party candidate for mayor this November at its mini-convention Wednesday night.

Dickson will be joined on the Republican ticket by Gregory Drummond for Councilman At-large, Dr. Robert Rubino for Ward I and Patrick Hurley for Ward II.

Russell Hulsizer was also nominated for Ward I and Councilman Michael Vernotico was nominated for a third term in Ward II but neither secured the party nomination. Either can still run for office off the party line or launch a write-in campaign. Petitions to run are due to the city clerk by 4 p.m. on Monday.

Ellen Dickson

Dickson was elected to her Ward I seat in 2005 and served as Council President in 2009. Dickson also launched an unsuccessful bid for Union County Freeholder last year. Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, also a Summit resident, nominated Dickson for mayor saying Dickson has the intelligence, passion and the energy to be mayor.

"As mayor I would vote on the Board of Ed budget and I would keep it at the cap or below," Dickson said. "I want to help lead Summit into the new normal. I think we have what we need, but we need to be good custodians of Summit and bring it into the next century for the wonderful future that I'm sure that we do have."

Robert Rubino

Rubino has been a Summit resident with wife Susan for 16 years. He runs a private OB/GYN practice with four locations, including one in Summit. Rubino is a graduate of both Rutgers University where he earned a bachelor's in biology and of UMDNJ University Hospital where he earned his M.D. He is a board member of the Colonial Crossroad's Chapter of the American Red Cross and a head coach for Summit Junior Baseball.

"I understand, with a keen awareness, the concerns of young families just starting out as well as the challenges facing mature families," Rubino said.

Gregory Drummond

Drummond, owner of Beechwood Title Agency is a graduate of Summit High School, Class of 1977. He then attended St. Lawrence University and Franklin Pierce Law Center. Drummond currently serves on the City of Summit Naming and Sponsorship Committee, the Summit and New Providence Rotary Club, and he is a former trustee and chairman of Summit Downtown, Inc.

"My name is not CoolHunter, DixieBoy, SoSummit or SummitRes," he said. "My name is Gregory Drummond, born and raised in Summit."

Drummond touted his experience and perspective as a downtown business owner and longtime resident.

"May I suggest that at the end of our council meetings we shake hands and remember who we represent and remember who we are because we are Summit," Drummond said.

Patrick Hurley

Hurley, also a 16-year Summit resident, has served on the Environmental Commission and the Summit Housing Authority as well as the Summit Memorial Day Committee and the Union County Air Traffic Noise Advisory Board. Hurley serves as a Navy pilot from 1987 through 1995 and is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He also has served as soccer coach and baseball coach. Hurley was not in attendance Wednesday night as he was traveling abroad in Germany on business.