Election 2024: Ateka Gunja For East Brunswick Mayor
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Physician Ateka Gunja is seeking public office for the first time. A longtime township resident, Gunja decided to move back to East Brunswick to raise her family here.
In a Q&A with Patch, Gunja talks about why she's running for Mayor and her plans for East Brunswick.
Patch has sent out a questionnaire to all candidates. They will be published as we receive them. If you are a candidate and haven't heard from us, please contact Sarah Salvadore at for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements.
I actually never considered public office before, even though I've taken on other leadership positions. Things changed a lot for me a year ago, as it did for so many around the world, when we bore witness to the tragic attack on civilians in Israel, followed by a year-long genocide in Gaza. As a concerned U.S. citizen, I have been writing to all my elected officials including Mayor Cohen to demand a ceasefire. I haven't received a response yet, and my attempts to meet with him and the Town Council have been turned down. So, I started going to town council meetings and drafted a ceasefire resolution, as a way for us to apply local pressure to our state and Federal government to pass an immediate, permanent ceasefire. The Town Council refused to even bring up the resolution for a vote, citing that they don't get involved in foreign relations. However, in 2022, we passed a resolution in support of a sisterhood in Rivne, Ukraine that condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. So, our town council has taken a stand on foreign issues before when it feels it's important to the residents of our town, and I believe this issue of Palestine is no different.
I think all the candidates have strong qualifications and backgrounds. I grew up in East Brunswick and I know this town. I love this town and decided to move back here to raise my family. I am a physician and single mom, so I am used to making hard decisions and handling challenges. It's very important to me that we keep our town a safe, happy, and healthy place to live and raise our families.
I think a lot of progress has been made, but it's still very much a work in progress. I would definitely work hard to support the construction and redevelopment efforts and make sure that they're completed efficiently.
I think this issue is so important. So many people and families are struggling financially although the economy may be strong. Affordable housing, schooling, and childcare are important, and I am a firm believer in universal healthcare. As Mayor, I would like to pursue universal pre-K for our township, continue to strengthen our community recreational and library services, support our farmers and conserve land, and take the financial concerns of all our residents seriously.
I think there is a lot of discord around the Board of Education election. I would want to make sure as Mayor that we maintain the highest standard of education and that the public schools always remain the gem of our town.
I love the diversity of East Brunswick. Having the opportunity to grow up with friends of different races, religions, and backgrounds helped me grow into someone who values diversity. I have always felt safe and valued in my community, and I hope it stays that way for generations to come.
Butterfly Park is our go-to.
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