Don't tell anyone, but Patrick Brennan would be the mayor of Merchantville even if the job didn't pay.

"This job pays $1,200 a year and it generally takes up about 30 hours a week," said Brennan, walking through the borough's quaint municipal building.

"It's obviously not about the money - I love this job."

Many politicians echo the same statements, especially during election season, but spend a little time with Brennan, and you'll realize he actually means it.

In fact, he said, he's looking for a young, "go-getter" to run for office when his term is up in 2006.

"It's about what's right for the people. If someone comes along who had the interests of the town in mind, I'd be glad to see them take over," said the 52-year-old father of seven.

Brennan, who owns three title companies in Turnersville, was elected in 1994 and has been mayor ever since.

The "Meet Mayor Brennan" link on the borough's Web site sheds light on some of the mayor's hobbies and interests.

His favorite television viewing is not C-SPAN, it's The Simpsons, and while his musical tastes vary, he's a huge fan of the tropical tunes of Jimmy Buffett.

Brennan, a 1968 graduate of Camden Catholic, unsuccessfully ran for state Assembly in 1987. He said he has no further aspirations for expanding his political career.

"I think that cured me," said Brennan, who also served on the zoning board and borough council. "I feel like I can get things done here. I don't have to go to a committee. That doesn't happen at the next level."

Joking aside, Brennan is serious about maintaining Merchantville's hometown, laid-back atmosphere. His biggest project, which he calls his "baby," is the senior housing complex now under construction.

Brennan regularly goes out on the municipal building's roof to watch the construction progress a few blocks away.

The $7.4 million complex will feature 74-apartment units behind the Centre Street business district.

Brennan said the senior housing complex will start a cyclical pattern to bring in new residents.

"Older residents who live in these big, old Victorians don't have the money or the resources to keep them up," said Brennan. "With the complex, seniors can stay in town and younger people can move in to those Victorians and fix them up."

Brennan also boasts of the borough's downtown district, which he refers to as "Mayberry on steroids."

A stroll through the Centre Street and Maple Avenue business district reveals dozens of small, thriving businesses.

Some, such as Aunt Charlotte's Chocolates and the Philadelphia Vegetable Market have been staples here. Others such as Rama Yoga and Cigar Alley are fairly new, but successful nonetheless.

During the past 10 years, the borough has, with the help of the local business association, recruited more than 25 new businesses to the downtown district.

Brennan said the borough's business and professional association is the only organization in town with guidelines for the look of local businesses.

"We want to protect the look of our main street," he said.

Surrounded by large townships filled with big box stores and malls, it's easy to see why Brennan wants to keep his town like Mayberry.

"Our downtown is real - it comes from a lot of blood and sweat," he said.

For homeowners, however, the borough is more lenient on decorating tastes.

"You can go ahead and paint your house purple here, if you want to. I don't like it, but if that's your thing, so be it," Brennan added.

Considering that two former mayors still live in town, Brennan said its unlikely he'll ever leave Merchantville.

"I love this town," he said, grinning from ear to ear. "It gets in your blood."