Madison has been an important part of my entire adult life, starting with when I first arrived in the Madison area in 1997 as a Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) freshman. While at FDU, we always viewed ourselves as part of the Madison community and enjoyed all that this amazing town had to offer. After graduation, I continued to work and live at the university until 2010 and officially moved to Madison. I continue to find the town a rich and welcoming place to live, whether as a college student, family, professional, or retiree.
Most of my professional career has been spent in higher education. I have worked at both FDU and Drew, and I currently serve as VP of Product for an educational technology company serving nearly 200 colleges and universities around the nation. We help leverage technology to improve business processes as well as better connect and engage students. The combination of providing solutions to solve problems while positively impacting people’s lives is what drew me not only to my profession but also to volunteerism and politics.
My first love of volunteering in Madison will always be the Downtown Development Commission (DDC). When I first joined the DDC as the university representative for FDU, I was still in my twenties. I loved seeing people of all ages and from all walks of life working together to make their community better for all. I was the youngest commissioner ever appointed to the DDC and have been one of its longest serving commissioners, having served from 2005 to 2021. I was also the DDC Chair in 2012 and 2013. During my time with the commission, we introduced strong programming to support Madison merchants, including the University Hometown Tours, The Love Madison; Shop Madison campaign and many other successful initiatives.
Our walkable historic downtown is incredibly special. In addition to its exceptional local merchants and many fine restaurants, Madison is uniquely positioned to attract not only residents but also those from well beyond its borders with its multiple cultural gems like our universities, the Shakespeare Theatre, the METC, and the Madison Arts Center.
And while we will always see new commercial development in the downtown, I believe that it is imperative that the Borough Council together with the Planning Board establish safeguards as to how that development will take place. We need safeguards that will protect our downtown’s key assets and maintain its historic character.
I’m also very proud of the proactive response we took to save the Masonic Lodge, preserving an important part of Madison’s history forever. Looking ahead, I expect that land use issues will remain on the forefront, as we look to our downtown, new affordable housing rules and the future of sites like Giralda Farms and I’m poised to work on solutions to these challenges.
I am now completing my first term on Madison Borough Council. Immediately prior to joining the council, I served on the Board of Health from 2015 to 2021 and was its president from 2017 to 2021. During that time, I was part of the team that negotiated a shared services contract with Bloomfield Township to offer health services in Madison. This model both expanded services and saved Madison taxpayers money.
I also became a “full-time” volunteer during much of the pandemic, as I was among the pandemic unemployed. This was a special time for me as I trained to become a contact tracer and then worked closely with borough administration and the health officer to ensure that Madison residents had access to information and resources to fight the pandemic. This experience gave me incredible insight into and appreciation for the varied needs of Madison’s 16,000+ residents.
In 2023, as the council’s Public Safety liaison, I worked closely with Madison Police Chief John Miscia to create additional pathways to hire police officers. With the action taken by the council – based on our recommendations – Madison was able to end the year with a fully-staffed police department.
The year 2023 also saw major shifts in the Madison Fire Department. When services provided by the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Squad encountered serious staffing challenges, we knew we had to act. As Public Safety liaison, I led a working group that included Councilman Bob Landrigan, Chief Wickman and others to develop a program that would expand EMS services provided by our professional fire department. As part of this program, we’ve hired a 14th full-time firefighter/EMT and several per diem EMTs to support the department’s expanded EMS services. This new program came online in April 2024
Since stepping onto Council, I have been part of the negotiating team that is working to save the Drew Forest. This effort has consumed hundreds of hours, and the work isn’t done yet. But I’m very proud of the progress we have made to keep the forest intact, while permitting Drew to move ahead and become more financially stable. Drew is an important part of Madison, and we need to be partners in a solution. As Mayor Conley would say “we’ve got unfinished business here.”
As I conclude my first term and look toward the future, I want to continue to focus my energies around important high impact areas that will improve life in Madison for all its residents. I’m very honored to serve and be a part of a “town of doers.” Madison’s fabric is woven by borough professionals and volunteer community members that work together to create a vibrant home for families, artists, business owners, educators, students, athletes, and activists alike. I hope you will continue to place your faith in me to represent you in our shared goal of cultivating and nurturing a prosperous and thriving Madison.