Mayor's Column Archive

Today is a beautiful day in our neighborhood! First, I just want to say how proud I am of all the students in Monroe Township. You faced the same challenges as the rest of the world- school closures, quarantine, transition to virtual learning, missing your friends and teachers-yet you overcame, thrived and succeeded. From K-12, you embraced the changes, the technology and showed us that learning can happen in many ways, from anywhere.

To the Monroe Township High School Class of 2020, congratulations! The culmination of 13 years of hard work has paid off. I know that you are disappointed that the second half of your senior year wasn’t what you had planned. You’ve missed some of the traditions and rites of passage, but you have found new ways to celebrate each other and your accomplishments. Virtual academic awards, adopt-a-senior, living room proms, a college signing day video and a township wide clap out; our community has laughed, cried and celebrated along side of you. Whether you are headed to college, military service, professional training, or you are taking a gap year, I challenge each of you to make an impact in your world and to be kind. You are tomorrows leaders and we can’t wait to see where you go from here.

I think we can safely say this is a challenge like no other in our lifetime.  We are living through history each day.   

I want to start my message by saying how immensely proud I am of our community, each one of you, for protecting each other by staying home.  I have asked a lot of you to completely change your daily lives, and you have delivered by putting others above yourselves. 

It is a real sacrifice.  It is painful.  And as I have said before, it is the opposite of who we are as social beings.

But our efforts to stay home are slowing the virus, and right now it’s the only tool we have. Without the sacrifices that we have each made over the past 7 weeks, there would have been so many more cases, many more deaths, more crowded hospitals and greater suffering. That is why we must continue our social distancing practices.  

- Providing Exemplary Care and Compassion in Times of Need 

Anyone who has required emergency medical assistance can appreciate the level of professionalism, dedication and respect demonstrated by the Monroe Township Emergency Services (EMS) department.  Many others have encountered our first responders at community engagement events and well as school and sporting activities.

As you may be aware, I took the oath of office to begin my second term as Mayor of Monroe Township at the Township Council’s Re-organization Meeting at the Senior Center on January 1.

The holiday season is quickly upon us as we approach the eve of a new decade. 

This is a special time to gather with family and friends in celebration of collective achievements and milestones while reflecting on the many reasons we have to be thankful and grateful.

As I enjoy my holiday celebrations with my loved ones, I also will reflect on how honored I am to serve as your mayor – for the past four years and now for another term. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished together for the betterment of this community in which we love. 

When Carole graduated from Montclair State and I graduated from Seton Hall, we lived on a tight budget.  We were married and with our first child; we had to make every dollar count as my National Guard unit was activated and I was stationed at Fort Dix. 

Five kids later, we still needed to be wise with our money. 

We carried little debt and always lived within our means.

I have used those same principles as your Mayor.   Yes, I have been called “frugal” and “careful,” but I simply refuse to spend what we don’t have.

There is absolutely no question that there are too many tractor trailers on our local roads.

It affects motorist and pedestrian safety and threatens the quality of life that we all enjoy in Monroe. There is no reason why our motorists and residents must continually have to deal with these out-of-town trucks, many of which are bringing goods to and from these new giant warehouses that border us in Cranbury.