Four years ago, my family chose Madison for our home. We were drawn to Madison’s vibrant and walkable downtown, its friendly neighborhoods, and its direct commute to New York. Today, as our son looks forward to starting kindergarten, our family is gratified to be part of an energetic community of parents, neighbors, and volunteers who treasure the shared experiences of Madison life.
When young families like ours choose Madison, we bring with us a vision of a nurturing community for our children and a high quality of life for our families. We value the same thing as older generations of Madison residents: a strong community that cherishes neighborliness, service, and the connection of people and place that is the foundation of community life.
I’m excited to be running for Madison Borough Council with Mayor Bob Conley and Councilwoman Maureen Byrne. Under Bob’s leadership, the Council has put the borough on a solid financial footing. This year, the municipal tax rate will see a 0% percent increase, while the utility dividend, paid to customers as a rebate on their monthly electric bill, has been increased by 50%. The Council has invested in our roads, upgraded utilities, and improved our parks, fields and playgrounds, all while securing an enviable AAA credit rating for the borough.
With Bob and Maureen, I share a vision that focuses on what matters to Madison residents, both now and for the future: calming and improving streets; supporting sensible development that maintains the town’s special character; meeting our obligation to plan for housing that is affordable to Madison residents; and making our borough a leader in environmental stewardship. I look forward to continuing conversations in Madison about climate change and how we can take meaningful collective action to face this threat to our security.
As an architect with fifteen years of experience, I’ve trained to plan and prepare for the future. I became an architect as a professional way to serve people, to help communities, and to do good by improving lives. I am ready to translate my professional experience and passion for service into success for Madison.
I am a graduate of Skidmore College, and I earned my Master of Architecture from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. I was the 2004 recipient of the AIA Henry Adams Medal and Certificate for general excellence in architecture. I currently practice as a Senior Associate and Studio Director for housing design at Dattner Architects, an award-winning New York City firm that is guided by its civic mission. I am a member of the American Institute of Architects and the Policy Innovation Network of the Citizens Housing Planning Council.
I serve on the board of NJ11th For Change, an unaffiliated organization dedicated to advocating for all people of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. NJ11th for Change fosters an engaged and informed community with the power to shape our political representation so that it is transparent, responsive, and accountable.
I currently serve on the Madison Planning Board along with Mayor Conley, Councilwoman Astri Baillie, and a group of other thoughtful and committed residents. Working together with board members over the last two years, I’ve gotten to know our town more deeply – its people and its places, its priorities and its challenges. As a member of the Board’s Master Plan subcommittee, I’ve identified actions that we can take to preserve the scale of our residential neighborhoods, to encourage the principles of smart development, and to cultivate a lively town center that draws families and visitors to our community.
As a member of the Borough Council, I will focus on health and safety, a vibrant downtown, a verdant and sustainable Madison, and shared opportunity for all, including the opportunity to participate in the discussion of the future of Madison. I look forward to meeting with Madison voters during our campaign and listening to and acting on their concerns.
Madison is a wonderful place to live– rare and fortunate in its deep ties to history. Together, we can build on this foundation to make it an even better place for the future.