Ray Woods has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Merchantville, launching a campaign focused on affordability, community safety, and ushering in a new generation of leadership in borough government.

Woods, a current Borough Council member, is running alongside Councilman Sean Fitzgerald and community leader Ruby Delarosa as a unified slate for Borough Council. The team has received the endorsement of outgoing Mayor Ted Brennan, who is stepping away from office after years of service.

“Our campaign is about keeping Merchantville affordable and ensuring every resident feels safe and welcome,” Woods said. “We represent a new generation of leadership ready to build on the borough’s strong foundation while addressing the real challenges families and seniors face today.”

Woods said rising costs facing residents will be the central issue of his campaign, emphasizing responsible budgeting, smart redevelopment, and policies aimed at easing financial pressures on families and longtime residents. A parent raising a young family in the borough, Woods said his experience informs his focus on affordability and quality-of-life issues.

He also highlighted a commitment to maintaining Merchantville as a safe and inclusive
community, particularly for residents who feel vulnerable amid national political tensions and as federal immigration enforcement has threatened our communities. Woods sharply criticized recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing local incidents that he said endangered families and undermined community trust and that local government must continue to promote dignity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging for all residents.

“Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increasingly flouted our nation’s
democratic processes and trampled basic human rights,” Woods said. “Right here in Camden County, ICE operations in Lindenwold caused panic at a school bus stop, putting children in danger as they fled in fear. The threat to our community is real and it is unacceptable. As Mayor, I am committed to ensuring Merchantville continues to stand with and protects all of our residents and that our community remains a place where every family feels safe.”

The slate frames its candidacy as a generational transition in local leadership, combining municipal experience with new energy and perspectives. Fitzgerald brings years of service on Borough Council and technical expertise from his work as a senior treatment technician with the Merchantville Pennsauken Water Commission, while Delarosa is a lawyer by trade and serves on the Merchantville Board of Education and chairs the borough’s Diversity Committee, helping lead community engagement initiatives.

Woods and his running mates are honored to have the support and confidence of Mayor Brennan and pledged to continue building on the progress made during his administration.

“Mayor Brennan leaves a strong legacy of service and strong economic development in the borough,” Woods said. “We are grateful for his support and committed to carrying that work forward while preparing Merchantville for the future.”

A lifelong South Jersey resident, Woods has lived in Merchantville with his wife, Molly, since 2016, where they are raising their three children. He joined the Joint Land Use Board in 2017, was elected to Borough Council in 2019, and in 2025 was appointed commissioner of the Merchantville Pennsauken Water Commission. Professionally, he works in government relations and public affairs and previously served in senior policy roles in the New Jersey Legislature focused on affordability, healthcare, and worker protections.

The Woods and his running mates are seeking the Democratic nomination in the upcoming Primary Election on June 2, 2026, followed by the General Election on November 3, 2026.