@mikemcquaid  /var/run has special features/attributes... it may be inappropriate to move things away from here (http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19455-01/805-7228/fsoverview-19/index.html)
I confirmed, /var/run files are cleared on reboot, /usr/local/var/run files are not. I'll assume the /usr/local version is also not a memory-based filesystem either.
thoughts?