Somerset County Commissioner Primary Candidate: Michael Kirsh

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Somerset County's preliminary election on June 8 has four candidates running for two open seats on the Board of County Commissioners. Michael Kirsh is one of two Republican candidates running.

Kirsh currently serves as a Councilman in Bridgewater (from 2020 to present) and has worked as a Marketing and Business Development Executive for more than 20 years. Previously, Kirsh served on the Green Brook Township Committee, including service as Deputy Mayor (2005 to 2007).

Kirsh is married to his wife Nicole and has a daughter Phoebe (11th grade), son Robert (9th grade), and dog Lily (2 ½).

Kirsh has a B.A. from Brown University and an M.B.A. from Rutgers University.

Are you running for office in Somerset County? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements.

Michael Kirsh

Campaign website

www.somersetcountygop.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

All who are able should step up to serve, whether that be as a class parent, within a religious context, or as part of a volunteer organization. As someone with particular interest in government and how it can improve the immediate and extended community that I call home, I willingly devote my time to helping make a positive difference.

The single most pressing issue facing our county is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The need for common sense solutions, with legitimate cooperation between the county and all 21 municipalities. Government is best when it is smallest — delivering needed services in a consistently cost-effective manner. In 2021, our Commissioners passed along a 10% increase in the cost of recycling that is charged to every household through your municipal taxes. This is a clear passing of the buck. It defies common sense, is poor cooperation, and is certainly not fiscally conservative.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Our County Commissioners need to roll up their sleeves, consistently show up to work, clearly understand where their responsibilities begin and end, and focus on the most important question facing them — how to keep Somerset County taxes as affordable as possible. An austere budget in a single year does not make anyone a fiscal conservative. Voters instead demand a consistent track record of and absolute belief in small government and legitimate fiscal conservatism.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current county commissioners failed the community?

The incumbent County Commissioners, representing a 5-0 Democrat majority, devote a massive amount of time and effort on partisan appointments, press releases, social media, oversized checks, and wielding ceremonial shovels for groundbreakings. Those items cannot and should not be the principal focus of your elected officials. Government should be about you, not about them.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

County government must address both short-term challenges and provide a long-term vision. The wonderful place we call home didn’t happen by accident, but instead through a blueprint from our predecessors over a 50 year history of Republican leadership. We have them to thank for our unrivaled parks system, exceptional fiscal management with its high bond rating, and thriving business environment (currently impacted by COVID-19) that consistently attract new residents. Over the last three county elections the winners have focused on party labels, taking clear advantage of recent political winds but providing no tangible direction or leadership. Now is a time that demands vision and solutions. In the coming months, Amber Murad and I will outline where we want to lead Somerset County during the upcoming term to set us up for success in 2030 and beyond.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have served on the governing body of one of Somerset’s smallest communities (Green Brook) and one of its largest (Bridgewater) through both good and more challenging economic times. Just as important, I understand the challenges faced by county residents — those just starting out, younger families, families with older kids, empty nesters, and seniors. We must make sure to keep Somerset County affordable and attractive, and not push people away through activist government that spends too much.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

From my father that there is no free lunch. Put a slightly different way, all decisions have consequences. Considered in a political context, it is critically important to select candidates you can be proud of, who will effectively represent your values and best interests with both the issues that are known today and the ones that can arise during the upcoming term.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I’ve enjoyed a remarkable and blessed life in Somerset County over the last 19 years. My wife and I have experienced many of life’s highs—like the births of our children and guiding them to become responsible young adults — along with some of life’s lows, like illness and the death of a parent. Along the way I’ve had my share of sleepless nights, worried about our financial prospects and how to make ends meet. This has re-enforced my belief that government must be no bigger than is absolutely necessary. Every extra dollar paid in taxes — and certainly any tax dollar not optimally spent — diminishes our cherished liberty just a little bit more.

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