Meet The 2019 Washington Township Committee Candidates

LONG VALLEY, NJ — There is a contested election for Washington Township Committee this fall, and Patch caught up with them ahead of the general election.

We asked all candidates the same five questions:

1. Why are you running for office?
2. What is the biggest challenge you see facing your community and how will you address it?
3. What makes you the right person to vote for as opposed to the other candidate(s)?
4. What will you do to facilitate communication with the community?
5. What inspires you?

All candidates were sent the questions at the same time, and were given the same deadline to submit them. They were given no minimum or maximum word count, and encouraged to write as much as they needed, or to keep the answers brief if they wanted to. Answers were submitted by email and are presented here as submitted.

John Tyler Oborn, Republican

Why are you running for office?

I feel a sense of duty to serve and contribute to our community. I have been involved with various volunteer committees, including Open Space and Economic Development, and would like to bring some of those ideas and learning to the Township Committee.

What is the biggest challenge you see facing your community and how will you address it?

The biggest challenge our town faces is how to best take advantage of the opportunities in front of us. We have an amazing community and great schools, but we are facing strong headwinds from years of poor decisions in Trenton that have led to the highest taxes in the nation and layers of regulation. These things stifle economic growth and make it difficult for businesses to thrive. We’ve seen major businesses leave the area (BASF, Mars, Honeywell) and with them, good high paying jobs go with them. As a commuter town (we have very few large employers in town) we rely on job opportunities throughout the region. We need to work with the county and state leaders to improve the business climate, or face more people leaving the area.

What makes you the right person to vote for as opposed to the other candidate(s)?

My running mate, Gregg Forsbrey, and I are the right people to represent the residents of this town. We have the experience and knowledge necessary to fulfill the duties of town leaders, namely providing the resources for ongoing infrastructure investments and ensuring that our first responders have the training and support they need to keep our residents safe.

What will you do to facilitate communication with the community?

I would love to see more people attend the township committee meetings each month. There’s no better way to no what’s going on then to show up and participate. I’d also encourage residents to volunteer on the ad-hoc committees and contribute their time and ideas to helping the town a variety of different areas. Finally, in this day of instant communication and advanced technology, I would like to send out regular electronic newsletters with updates and discussion of issues that affect the town.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by all of those who give of their time and talents to help others, whether it be our PTA and room moms helping our teachers, our volunteer fire and first-aid squads, the many youth coaches, and those that work with our seniors. We are all pulled in so many directions these days that it’s easy to be “too busy” to volunteer. Our town has an amazing sense of community because so many are helping to make it so.

Veronica Fernandez, Democrat

Why are you running for office?

I love our community and want to do all that I can to protect it and preserve it. I first ran for a seat on the Township Committee two years ago. Then as now, I had decided to run because I believe that there are voices in our community that are not being heard. In 2017 I learned a lot from listening to fellow residents. They let me know what concerned them, like the library being supported, infrastructure issues, and a general feeling of being kept in the dark.

I truly believe in the adage of “Think globally but act locally.” Making the world a better place begins in our own backyard. I know we can do better and I know I can help us be better.

What is the biggest challenge you see facing your community and how will you address it?

The Township Committee has a history of “kicking the can down the road.” Sally and I are running on the theme of being Responsive and Responsible. In order to respond to something, you first need to hear it. We have noticed that our current Township Committee has a pattern of only hearing their own voices. Time and time again, whether it’s road paving, the historic district overlay or the NJ Green Amendment, we see where they have already decided what they want to do, and they do it regardless of public input. They do not listen; they do not respond.

Regarding responsibility, they come up short as well. Here are some examples:

• Have you seen the Municipal Building? It is badly peeling; wood is bare and rotting. It hasn’t been painted or treated in at least a decade. The cost to repair and then paint or side the building will be more than if maintenance had been responsibly done over the years. There is no indication that the Township Committee has planned for its maintenance or saved to address it.
• Then there is state of our water and sewage system, which the current MUA Director admits hasn’t been properly maintained in well over a decade. The lines are failing, the water tanks haven’t been painted and need structural repair. WTMUA customers have been hit with a $100 yearly surcharge tax just to cover the cost of repainting the water towers.
• Some residents had approached the Township Committee to endorse the Green Amendment pending in the NJ Legislature (not to be confused with the Green New Deal). They were dismissed in a cavalier manner. That proposal simply states that all citizens of New Jersey have a right to clean air and water. Without looking at the facts, the Township Committee rejected this amendment as being anti- business. However, consider how Lake Hopatcong suffered the consequences of losing business and property value as a result of failure to think ahead and protect our own shared environment.

Sally and I want to change that, and we can change that. We will be responsive and responsible to all Washington Township residents.

What makes you the right person to vote for as opposed to the other candidate(s)?

My job will be to listen and keep an open mind. The current Township Committee members are all like-minded men, seeing the world in the same manner. They have been in power a long time, and that brings a sense of entitlement, complacency and arrogance. Not everyone is living the same experience, so you must listen to people. I will ask questions that they haven’t asked, that should be asked. A fresh approach will breathe new life into the Township Committee, whose decisions affect the quality of our everyday life.

For 20 years, I worked as a Licensed Property Casualty Underwriter for municipal and educational clients. Along with that, for 7 years, I was the coordinator at a homeless shelter run by the Interfaith Council of Homeless Families of Morris County. My husband and I own and operate an electrical contracting firm. I know about the costs and constraints of running a small business, being responsive to customers and meeting their needs.

I’ve raised my family here. This is my home. I want the best for my family and all of us in this community.

What will you do to facilitate communication with the community?

When I first ran, I started my campaign by knocking on doors to listen to residents, because in twenty years here no one ever knocked on my door. Common thinking is that the onus is on the resident to inform themselves as to the workings of their representatives. But frankly we are all busy in our daily lives, so even though we are concerned, we don’t have the time or the energy to make ourselves informed.

So, I am open to anything to make it easier for all residents to know what is going on. As such, I want the emphasis to be on bringing information to them instead of the other way around. Some ideas are:

• Livestreaming, recording and posting meetings and Town Halls.
• Conduct Town Hall information meetings about issues and potential solutions.
• Better utilization of social media (such as Facebook). The tweeting by Emergency Management is a prime example of good utilization.
• Greater exchange with media in general
• Greater emphasis on finding and supporting volunteers for the various committees, including encouraging new voices and new ideas.

What inspires you?

The many volunteers who have supported my campaign inspire me. They work tirelessly and energetically because they, too, want to bring a better change into their lives and community. Their dedication is astounding and inspiring. I’ve also come to realize that their hard work comes from a love of country. We all give voice to our patriotic pride and civic duty in different ways. I am grateful for theirs.

Gregg Forsbrey, Republican

Why are you running for office?

I am running for the sake of our children, the future of our township and great nation. I am in the position that I am able to do the job and we need people like me. My wife and I are homeowners here and have two boys, five and eight year olds in our local schools. Ten years ago I filled out a citizen volunteer form and was appointed as an alternate member Historic Preservation Commission and Green Team member. Since then I became a full member of Historic preservation and now serve as liaison from the Township Committee. With the Green Team I was Chairman three times and now serve as liaison from the Township Committee. I have put on eight Greenest events, the last four partnering with our volunteer firefighters. While in office I have been involved in Bringing home a $457,000 federal firefighter’s grant to the township. Directly involved with both South Branch Preserve Connecter as well as the Rock Spring Park walking Path as liaison to the trails Committee. Eighty percent of the cost of these trails was paid for by grant from Morris County. Now I am working on a grant to improve our senior center and a membership retention program with our volunteer first responders.

What is the biggest challenge you see facing your community and how will you address it?

The opiate crisis and affordability. I have used my Committeeman post to raise awareness about the danger that opiates present to our people in Washington Township. I was a part of the township joining the Stigma Free initiative. I proposed that the township list our opioid deaths on the municipal signboard. Asking to post the deaths lead instead to posting our saves and the WTPD along with the Morris County Sherriff hosted a NARCAN training at the PD. With the mayor made Proclamations in support of Overdose Awareness Day and Knock Out Opioid Day. Affordability is a key issue. I have a responsibility to keep municipal taxes as low as possible while providing the best services available. Keeping taxes low is key.

What makes you the right person to vote for as opposed to the other candidate(s)?

For the past two and a half years while serving in office I have worked hard to do a good job for the people of Washington Township. My first year I held eleven appointments, attended around 100 meetings and put in about 800 hours of service into our community. My second year I served another 800 hours and I am on pace to do that again this year. We do not get paid on the Township Committee in Washington Township instead continuing the tradition of donating our stipend to the recreation department to fill a part time position. I make myself as available to the public as I am able to. I listen to people and always try to make the best decision on their behalf. I will continue to improve our trails and crosswalks

What will you do to facilitate communication with the community?

I attend many commission, committee, authority, boards and like groups meetings and meet a lot of people. Also I have handed out over 800 business cards while in office. I have a Facebook page Washington Township Committeeman Gregg Forsbrey. As a member of the committee I was a part of installing the new municipal sign board in front of the PD. The township website was recently updated to be more users friendly. I am always happy to speak with any member of our community.

What inspires you?

I think one of the things that inspire me to serve is my love of Washington Township, Its people, ways and traditions. I want to make sure that our children live in a great country. I am grateful to have the opportunities that I do and want to give back to our community. I have been able to help a lot of people while serving in office from somewhat trivial issues to some very important things.

Sarah (Sally) Hudson, Democrat

Why are you running for office?

I am concerned about some serious challenges that our community is facing, challenges that are real threats to the beauty, quality of life, and superb education system that we all love about Washington Township.

Our current Township Committee fails to adequately plan, causing expenditures for emergency repairs to be the norm rather than the exception. They have not energetically sought out additional sources of funds, such as grants, to address some of the major infrastructure issues. They have not been open and transparent about the extent of the challenges and the options for addressing them.

Finally, and this is not only disappointing but quite simply poor management, there has been an active exclusion of non-Republican voices. This intrinsically and needlessly limits the brainpower and creativity that could be applied to solving problems and protecting the community rather than simply protecting their standing within the Republican party.

What is the biggest challenge you see facing your community and how will you address it?

The biggest challenge is the crumbling infrastructure. We’re losing more than 30% of our water through decaying pipes, yet residents on Schooley’s Mountain are subject to water restrictions every summer and now an additional surcharge tax. While the Washington Township Municipal Utilities Authority is an independent entity, the Township Committee has oversight authority. This isn’t a problem that suddenly appeared. It’s a problem that’s been a decade in the making.

Harsh winters are tough on our roads, but we’ve got insufficient budget to address repairs until they become desperate. Emergency repairs are always more expensive, so we’re consistently being penny wise and pound foolish.

With water and roads, our basic infrastructure, the Township Committee could and should be working to find funding solutions beyond taxes, and holding open forums with the community on the options.

What makes you the right person to vote for as opposed to the other candidate(s)?

I have experience as a businessperson in Operations, IT as well as Marketing. In those roles, I’ve had to deliver to customer’s expectations within tight budget constraints.

I’ve also served as chairperson of two non-profit, volunteer-dependent organizations, the NJ Vision Loss Alliance and the Washington Township Democratic Committee.

In all these roles, private and public sector, the ability to engage the best from a diverse group, with respect combined with decisiveness, and generate commitment and enthusiasm to shared goals has exemplified my leadership and ability to achieve goals. I know how to deliver under the constraints of budgets. To do so requires long-range thinking, not short-term solutions.

What will you do to facilitate communication with the community?

Assure openness of, accessibility to and transparency in the meetings and decision making of the Township Committee. Potential tactics include:

• Livestreaming, recording and posting meetings.
• Town Hall information meetings about issues and potential solutions.
• Better utilization of social media (such as Facebook).
• Greater proactivity with media in general.
• Presence and availability at community events.

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by the thought that a diverse people can unite around shared goals and achieve so much more than on their own. I do believe that we can create a future that is brighter, and more open and more inclusive than our past.