Manville Council Primary Candidate: Suzanne Maeder

MANVILLE, NJ — Suzanne Maeder is one of four candidates running for council in the Manville primary election being held on Tuesday, June 4.

Maeder and Ted Petrock III are both vying for the Republican ticket while Roberta G. Walters and Ronald Skirkanish are both vying for the Democratic ticket. There are two council seats currently up for grabs.

Additionally, Republican Richard M. Onderko and Democrat Philip E. Petrone are both vying for the mayoral seat.

All six candidates are vying for their party's nomination on June 4 and then will move on to the general election on Nov. 5.

Suzanne Maeder

Description:

My name is Suzanne Maeder. I am a 32-year-old Manville resident who believes very strongly in local community. I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with my Bachelor of Arts in English, minoring in Rhetoric. I taught English and Drama for five years in a Title 1 high school in Prince George’s County, Maryland, before moving to New Jersey a week after Sandy wreaked her havoc on the state. After having children, I transitioned to a freelance career tutoring and writing. I have been married for 10 years to my best friend, Robert, with whom I have three children: Leo, 5, Zoe, 3, and Lux, 1. I love being outside, writing cheesy poetry, and eating pizza.

What experience to you have that would help you serve?

About a week after Rob and I closed on our house, I sent a letter to the then-mayor of Manville asking how I could get involved. He said that he would love for me to fill a vacancy on the Board of Health. That initial appointment started it all. I’ve served continuously on the Board of Health since that appointment in 2014, becoming the president in 2016. Since that time, I have become a member of the Joint Land Use Board, and served on a variety of committees, including the Main Street Redevelopment committee.

I have spearheaded flu shot clinics at our local Community Days and partnered with the Somerset County Health Department to ensure that public Manville events have public health education available to residents. I also helped with the codification of both the Board of Health ordinances and the Zoning ordinances – projects I am incredibly proud of because of how vital they are to the everyday infrastructure of our town. I have also used my writing and editing background to write pieces for our local news, and am the editor of Sustainable Manville, our local Sustainable Jersey chapter’s newsletter.

If I have learned anything from the past six years, it is that three things are absolutely vital to local government: eyes ready to read, ears ready to listen, and a mind ready to discern. My eyes, ears, and mind are ready to take on Manville’s challenges.

What issues would you like to address in Manville?

Manville faces many similar problems to our neighboring boroughs. Manville’s Main Street needs revitalization and pedestrian traffic, and Manville’s taxpayers need property tax relief. In an era when shopping seems to be shifting to e-commerce, local business owners must become increasingly savvy to bring economic traffic. I am probably biased, as an educator myself, but I believe a large part of the solution to this problem is in education – on both sides of this issue. Consumers need to be educated to the hidden costs and ramifications of shopping online, and business owners need to be educated in best practices to most effectively drive their business
success. Manville does best when our local businesses are doing well, so thinking strategically about how best to encourage that flourishing would be a personal priority.

Property tax relief, as I am sure every reader is well aware, is a complicated issue many municipalities are attempting to tackle. Manville’s unique problem of Blue Acres buy-outs only compounds the problem, and so the solution will likely be as composite. I believe that a combination of State-relief, frugal municipal budgeting, and encouragement of our local businesses will begin to allow taxpayers to see some relief. Thankfully, because we are not alone in this problem, there are many opportunities for collaboration and think-tanking with other municipalities. I believe in humble diplomacy, and I think it could be of great benefit to Manville in this particular area.

Why should voters vote for you?

There are always two parts to politics: the What and the How. What will I advocate? Wise, frugal, and conservative policy that I believe will allow our town to flourish and thrive. But, perhaps, especially in Manville, is the How. How will I advocate? With compassion, wisdom, and grace. Patience is key in bureaucracy: patience for the personalities, and patience for the process. I believe I have both, and that it will elevate Manville’s politics and policies.

But perhaps more importantly, I love Manville. Rob and I chose this town to buy our home, have our children, and put down deep roots. I love that I know my neighbors, I can walk to the library, and that I frequently run into friends walking along Main Street. I care deeply about the success of my town, and I will read every page, listen to every complaint, and make every possible effort in my ability to see it flourish. I love my marvelous Manville.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

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