Dear Ship Bottom neighbors:
It has been an honor to serve you as a Ship Bottom councilman since 2012. God willing I will be sworn in again this January and if so, I promise to represent you sincerely. But while my name is on this year’s ballot, I submit this letter to draw attention to a more important aspect of this year’s election.
On Nov. 3, for the first time in 28 years, Ship Bottom will elect a new leader to serve as our mayor. Some elections transcend “politics” and party affiliation, and for Ship Bottom this is such an election. This choice we make cannot be taken lightly, as the future of this town we love will be in our new mayor’s hands.
We have two candidates asking for our vote. I am thankful that one of those candidates is Jim Ulrich. Jim’s powerful resume includes having spent the last five years as business administrator for a town quite a bit larger than our Ship Bottom. Jim was hired there to straighten out some serious issues, and that’s what he did. Whether it’s constructing balanced budgets, managing employees, negotiating contracts or building consensus (across all party lines), he’s been doing this with expertise for years.
Upon being sworn in as mayor he will recognize what needs to be done, and equally important know how to get it done.
Through his impressive career, Jim has built a network of state and even federal contacts, so when Jim reaches for the phone on behalf of Ship Bottom, someone will answer that call and hear our needs. And as a great bonus to our town, Jim is an expert in securing outside grants, often enormous ones. That outside funding will assist us in delivering the town’s future needs with less burden falling on you, our taxpayers.
Early voting has begun. I’m heading there now when I put down this pen. I’ll be casting my ballot for whom I choose to lead our beloved Ship Bottom, and I will do so with confidence and certainty. For me, it is not a hard choice. I am voting for Jim Ulrich for mayor.
David Hartman, councilmanShip BottomOctober 28, 2026
