Hillsborough Council Primary Candidate: Steven Cohen

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough's preliminary election on June 8 has four candidates running for two open seats on the Township Committee. Steven A. Cohen, 67, is one of two Republican candidates running.

Cohen currently works as a Facilities Manager at Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in Jersey City. He previously served on the Hillsborough Township Board of Education.

Married for 33 years with two daughters, Cohen has a Bachelor of Arts.

Steven A. Cohen

Why are you seeking to run for township committee?

My Dad exposed me to the joy of public service, witnessing the satisfaction he received giving back to his hometown. Over 20 years ago, upon moving to Hillsborough, our neighborhood welcomed us as family; that is Hillsborough, a place you want to be from. Shortly thereafter, as a member of our Hillsborough Rotary Club, and later the BOE, I carried on the family tradition of "service above self" devoted to maintaining Hillsborough "as a best community" to live in. As a Rotarian, we worked to benefit the community donating to those in need and holding town wide events; the two most proud of is the success of the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, and Rotary Fair. And as a board member taking care to protect our taxpayers while managing the fiscal and regulatory unfunded burdens placed upon us by our State government.

I am driven to give back to the community that has been so good to me and my family, and my desire to join the Township Committee is a continuation of that journey.

How would you address the affordable housing issues/overdevelopment in Hillsborough?

For over 20 years, Hillsborough litigated and aggressively negotiated its fair share housing obligations, attempting to minimize the impacts of these mandates. In March 2020, The Township Committee (TC) finalized an agreement locking in our AH obligations until 2025. Our township special counsel, working with the Court Special Master, Fair Share Housing Center and interveners, achieved a strategy to require development sites to provide 24 percent affordable obligations versus the standard 10-20 percent used by other municipalities. Thus, lowering the number of market rate units and overall residential development that strain the municipal and school budgets. Kindly take note, the current student population advertised at 7,346, is lower today then during 2017-2018 school calendar year, at 7,393. As a member of the Township Committee and will continue the struggle and fight to minimize these mandates. And, if we must, let us at least seek State approval to give preference for these affordable units to qualifying front line medical workers, veterans, and all first responders.

Diversity is largely talked about in the township and country. How do you feel about the current status of the township in terms of diversity?

Hillsborough has always been a welcoming community, a safe community and chosen as one of the best places to live in America, that has embraced all faiths, races, and ethnicities because our residents recognize that we are all Americans. Our national motto … E Pluribus Union, "Out of Many One" is lived every day in our great town.

What other issues do you feel must be tackled in town?

A Senior center; safe street crossings for our school children; road improvements; marijuana legalization; continuing struggles of the COVID 19 pandemic; future planning tied to the upgrades to Route 206, and the completion of the BY-PASS.

What sets you apart from the challenging Democrats?

I believe my years serving on the Planning Board, and the Board of Education provide a diverse understanding of the issues that confront our BORO. My decisions always strived to make prudent fiscal and planning choices on behalf of the taxpayers, always with an eye on will this improve our community.

Additionally, I believe my years in facilities management,afforded me a unique "on the job" education, since my work intersects with public safety, radio communications, emergency operations, financial budgeting, data network operations, fiber camera and satellite contracts, procurement contracts, cleaning operations, security operations, construction operations, real estate development, leasing , HVAC, indoor/outdoor maintenance, and implementing COVID 19 protocols.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

I believe that local governments main responsibility is to provide high quality municipal service in a fiscal responsible manner, unbridled from any ideology other than keeping our town as one of the best places in America.

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