The governing body of Watchung Borough is comprised of a Mayor and a Borough Council, with all positions elected at-large on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. The Mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office.
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Candidate has not yet responded.
Qualifications/Experience
Daryl Eisenberg Knegten is a former Watchung Borough Council member and a small business owner with more than 20 years of experience managing budgets, supervising staff, negotiating contracts, and building teams. She understands how the Borough operates and has the experience and judgment to lead effectively.
Involvement in Community
Daryl grew up in Watchung and is now raising her family here. She has served twice as PTO president, chaired the Watchung Democratic Committee, launched the Watchung Chamber of Commerce, and serves as the inaugural chair of the Somerset County Film Commission. She has spent years organizing events, supporting local initiatives, and bringing residents together.
Slogan
Building a Better Watchung
Watchung must manage growth and redevelopment without losing the character and quality of life that make our community special. That means addressing traffic, drainage and aging infrastructure; planning responsibly for development and affordable-housing obligations; and providing greater transparency around spending and major decisions. We will improve communication with residents, pursue grants and shared services, protect our open space, and ensure that long-term planning reflects the needs of the entire community.
For the operating budget, our priorities are excellent public safety and municipal services, responsible staffing, careful review of professional contracts, and controlling the burden on taxpayers. For the capital budget, we support a transparent, multiyear plan for roads, drainage, emergency equipment and municipal facilities. Projects should be prioritized based on safety, urgency and long-term value, while pursuing grants and avoiding short-term decisions that create greater costs later.
We would prioritize protecting Watchung’s tree canopy and open space, including ensuring that Camp Endeavor and Ness Farm are preserved, responsibly maintained and put to appropriate public use. We also support improving energy efficiency in municipal buildings, choosing lower-emission vehicles as the Borough’s fleet is replaced, expanding recycling and anti-idling efforts, using native plantings, and improving stormwater management. We would aggressively pursue grants so these environmental improvements do not fall entirely on local taxpayers.
