Nicolas Carra, the mayor of Raritan, N.J., suddenly resigned on Tuesday with two years remaining in his term.
In a letter explaining his decision, the Republican said he no longer believed he would be able to fulfill the goals he set out to accomplish. He added that his decision to resign “immediately” was “not made lightly.”
“Leadership requires collaboration and shared commitment, and without that, the vision I promised you cannot be realized in the way I believe it should,” Carra wrote. “I never sought office for the sake of a title; I ran to challenge the status quo. If I cannot fulfill that mission, I believe it is right to allow someone else to take the helm in guiding our great town.”
Carra said that Raritan “deserves a mayor who can be fully present for the work ahead,” and thus it’s in the town’s “best interest” for him to step aside. He promised to continue supporting the community in any way he can.
Council President Don Tozzi will serve as acting mayor until Dec. 31, according to TAPinto. The 5-1 GOP borough council will then pick a successor from a list provided by the Raritan Republican Committee.
Carra served on the council from 2017 until 2023 before becoming mayor.
Raritan, in Somerset County, is about 45 miles southwest of New York City.
