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Glen Gardner Borough Council {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

Glen Gardner is governed under the Borough form of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body consists of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The Borough Council consists of six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle. The Borough form of government used by Glen Gardner is a weak mayor / strong council government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can veto ordinances subject to an override by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council. This seven-member governing body enacts local ordinances, levies municipal taxes and conducts the affairs of the borough. The Mayor and Borough Council conducts all of its business during monthly meetings open to the public.

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  • Candidate picture

    JAMES AYOTTE
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    THOMAS DAVIS
    (Dem)

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    SIMEON HITZEL
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What motivates you to run for this position? What personal and professional experiences have prepared you for this office?

If elected, what issue will you focus on during your three-year term and how do you propose to address it?

What are the principal responsibilities of members of a municipal governing board?

What role should local law enforcement play in activity conducted within our municipality by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Service (ICE)?

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I am seeking election to the municipal town council to actively contribute to the community that has been my home since 1987. My spouse and I have raised our two children in Glen Gardner, and I have been involved in coaching and managing youth basketball and travel soccer from grade school through high school. Additionally, I have taught religious education.

My goal is to focus on the needs of Glen Gardner residents, setting aside broader political considerations. Professionally, I bring expertise in project management, enabling me to support borough initiatives through effective team collaboration, task execution, risk mitigation, and budget adherence. Furthermore, my background as a business analyst positions me to implement cost-saving efficiencies, which are particularly valuable for a town without major industry.
There are a few areas I would like to focus on, but my main concern is the Glen Gardner quarry. While quarry companies contribute tax revenue, they also negatively affect residents through noise, dust, water issues, truck traffic, and vibrations from blasting. As the quarry nears its end of life, I oppose any plan to expand operations or acquire more land for this use. The NJ Natural Lands Trust is interested in purchasing a 6.8-acre Borough parcel, which I support. The Town Council has formed a subcommittee to review the offer, though some have suggested inviting a counteroffer from the quarry operator. However, most residents do not favor expanding quarry operations. My focus remains on mitigating the quarry’s impacts—noise, dust, water, vibrations, and future safety once operations cease.
A municipal governing board advocates for the interests of the community by soliciting input from its citizens and communicates decisions through open meetings. It does this through setting local laws and regulations for public safety, land use, animal control, etc. The municipal town council sets and maintains an annual budget for municipal services, infrastructure, and operations. This includes securing grants, loans, and alternative funding sources to supplement tax and other municipal revenues. The municipal town council manages a complex balance of the needs of the community with state regulations and budgetary restraints.
The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments address the concept of "due process of law." Individuals suspected of criminal activity should be afforded proper legal procedures, including arrest and judicial hearings, with local law enforcement playing an essential role in these processes. However, reports suggest that ICE has conducted warrantless arrests involving racial profiling by unidentified agents. Those detained are held in facilities that do not meet required standards and, in some cases, deported without due process. Local and state law enforcement agencies should refrain from supporting such actions.
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