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Monroe Township (Middlesex County) Council Ward 2

Monroe Township is governed within the Faulkner Act, under the Mayor-Council system of New Jersey municipal government. The governing body is comprised of a directly-elected mayor and a township council, all elected for four-year terms on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. There are three township council seats elected from wards, which come up for vote together, followed two years later by the two at-large seats and the mayoral seat.

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  • Candidate picture

    Martin J. Herrmann
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Rupa P. Siegel
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What personal and professional experiences/skills do you possess that make you uniquely qualified to serve on the council?

If elected, what issues would you like council to address in the next two-three years? Why ?

Based on the Master Plan, how would you enhance the vitality and livability of Monroe; and, how would you share your progress with the community?

What do you consider to be the most important challenge facing Monroe and how would you address it?

How would you approach state-mandated affordable housing?

How do you plan to keep property taxes from increasing while maintaining the quality of life of our residents?

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Campaign Email rupasiegel12@comcast.net
Children and Ages Kyle 23 and Shaun 20
Education BA Degree in Economics Rutgers University
Employment Sandoz Inc.
Involvement in Community Councilwoman Ward 2 (current), Former BOE Member (2018-2021)
Slogan Vote Column A Team Dalina
Years residing in town 16 years
Occupation Employed full time
Contacted by LWVNJ? Yes
Vote for Rupa Siegel Ward 2 Councilwoman
Since being elected in 2021, I’ve had the privilege of serving as Councilwoman for Ward 2, but my commitment to Monroe began long before then. After moving here in 2009 with my husband and two sons, I became deeply involved in our schools and community, holding leadership roles in PTAs and PTOs and supporting students, staff, and families. In 2018, I was elected to the Monroe Township Board of Education, where I served on critical committees including Curriculum, Policy, Finance, Personnel, and Negotiations. These experiences gave me a strong foundation in governance, budgeting, and consensus-building. Professionally, I am a Rutgers University graduate with a degree in Economics and work full-time in Human Resources and Legal for a global pharmaceutical company. My career has given me extensive project management experience, as well as the ability to work collaboratively across diverse teams and solve complex problems. Together, my professional skills and community service have prepared me to listen, lead, and make thoughtful decisions that will keep Monroe a thriving and welcoming place for all residents.
The top priorities I hear from residents are affordability, safety, and recreation. Monroe has one of the lowest tax rates in Middlesex County, thanks to responsible budgeting, securing grants, and shared service agreements. At the same time, we’ve strengthened public safety by equipping our police with the latest technology, adding more officers, and increasing EMS funding by 22%—bringing in new ambulances and full-time EMTs. We’ve also invested in road safety by re-paving heavily traveled streets and adding new traffic lights in key areas. Recreation and open space are equally crucial for the quality of life of our residents. I worked with residents to create Tranquility Trails on the southern side of town, ensured future recreation is part of the Master Plan, and preserved 10 acres of land for park use by stopping a warehouse project at Butcher Road. Looking ahead, I’ll continue building on these successes by following the Master Plan, expanding parks like James Monroe Park, and keeping residents engaged and informed. Whether through our township website, newsletters, televised council meetings, or social media outreach, I believe in making information accessible so every resident can stay up to date and involved in shaping Monroe’s future.
The Master Plan serves as our roadmap for managing growth, protecting open spaces, and investing in the services and amenities that residents value most. Recreation has been a top priority identified by our community, which is why I’ve worked to expand options on the southern side of Monroe with projects like Tranquility Trails, as well as preserving 10 acres of land for future park use. We’re also making major upgrades at James Monroe Park, including new restrooms, concession stands, ADA improvements, and electrical and septic upgrades. At the same time, I’ve supported infrastructure improvements like re-paving roads and adding traffic lights to keep our community safe and accessible. Equally important is making sure residents stay informed and involved. I regularly attend community events and speak directly with residents about our progress; however, I also believe in utilizing every available tool to share updates. We post information on the township website, send newsletters, televise council meetings, and actively use social media so residents can stay engaged no matter how they prefer to connect. My goal is to

ensure that every resident feels both heard and informed as we follow the Master Plan to keep Monroe vibrant, livable, and one of the best places to call home.
The most critical challenge we face is balancing the need to expand and enhance our services with the responsibility to keep Monroe affordable for families and seniors. Residents expect strong public safety, quality amenities, and reliable infrastructure, but they also depend on us to manage costs responsibly. That’s why I’ve focused on securing Monroe’s financial future through innovative fiscal management. I’ve worked with our state legislators on tax relief initiatives, such as the ANCHOR program, and collaborated with our administration to pursue grants and shared service agreements that bring in resources without increasing costs. I have consistently reviewed our financial portfolio to identify savings and secure the best possible bond rates. My priority is to keep delivering top-tier services while protecting taxpayers, so Monroe remains both a wonderful and affordable place to call home.
As the Ward 2 Councilwoman, I am proud that Monroe has created affordable housing for our Veterans at Valor Pointe. For the upcoming round four obligation, we’ve worked closely with the township administration and an expert planner to drastically reduce the number of state-mandated units while still meeting our legal requirements. Looking ahead, I will continue working as part of a strong team to carefully manage these obligations through responsible planning and open space preservation. Our goal is to protect Monroe’s quality of life, ensure development is thoughtful and balanced, and make sure state mandates are met in a way that serves residents without overwhelming our community.
Monroe consistently has one of the lowest property tax rates in Middlesex County, and I’ve worked hard as Councilwoman to keep it that way while protecting the quality of life our residents deserve. My approach has always been rooted in fiscal responsibility, constantly pursuing grants, shared services, and outside funding so we can deliver more without asking taxpayers to pay more. At the same time, we’ve invested in what matters most. We’ve expanded senior programs and services, delivered direct property tax relief through programs like ANCHOR and StayNJ, enhanced our police department with new technology to keep Monroe one of the safest towns in America, and expanded EMS to meet the needs of our growing community. My commitment is to keep Monroe both affordable and one of the best and safest places to live in New Jersey.