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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Denville Township Council Ward 1

The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the seven-member Township Council, all elected to four-year terms of office on a partisan basis in odd-numbered years as part of the November general election. Four members are elected together, one council member from each of four wards, and two years later, the three at-large and the mayoral seats are up for election at the same time.

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  • Candidate picture

    Christina Kovacs
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Cameron Morissette
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What do you consider the most important challenge(s) facing your town and how do you plan to address it/them?

What in your personal and/or professional experience prepares you for this office?

What will you do to support a vibrant economy in our community?

How has federal immigration policy affected your town and how would you address it?

How would you protect/improve your town's environmental quality while providing adequate transportation infrastructure and development in your town?

As with many municipalities, Denville is faced with the unreasonable affordable housing requirements set forth by the state. Denville has, and continues to be, incredibly proactive in fighting these burdensome and unrealistic requirements. We are actively involved in the lawsuit, spearheaded by Montvale, challenging the current round of affordable housing. The township has spent significant time, effort, and money to defend its position, as well as to continue to preserve land. These housing requirements are not only burdensome as far as available land, but also have significant secondary and tertiary effects on our water and sewer utilities, school system, public safety, roadways, and traffic.
I am a lifelong Denville Resident. I have spent the last three decades, enjoying all of the wonderful things that Denville has to offer, as well as seeing our beautiful community evolve. I am blessed to be able to raise my child in the community which means so much to me. I developed a love for volunteering at a young age, as a Girl Scout. I am also a seasoned first responder. I joined the Denville Fire Department, as a volunteer, when I was 16 years old and became an EMT when I was 17. I spent 10 years as the First Aid Lieutenant of Valleyview Company 3. I continue to serve the community as an EMT. In my professional life, I’m a Detective Lieutenant with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and I have held various leadership roles throughout the agency. These experiences have shown me how important a strong public safety network is, and I am honored to continue to serve my community. I have had the privilege to serve on the Town Council the past 4 years, putting most of my efforts toward the Green Sustainability Committee and the Environmental Commission.
The Township of Denville is committed and actively involved in the Downtown Denville Streetscape project, and always supports the downtown business community. We have actively sought, and received, grant money to offset the cost of these projects, which help to beautify our downtown. I will continue to support all improvement projects related to the downtown, as well as the rest of the community.
As a first generation American, whose parents came to this country as refugees, I am acutely aware of the important role that immigration has had on America’s history. I am immensely proud of the life that my family created here.

The Attorney General‘s directive does not allow for local law-enforcement to actively aid and assist federal law enforcement agencies in immigration enforcement activities. The Township of Denville’s Police Department remains in compliance with the Attorney General directives and will continue to do so.
I will continue to support Open Space acquisitions throughout the Township. I am a strong supporter of Denville’s efforts to preserve the St. Francis and Pocono Road Field properties. Both parcels of land have deep historical significance in our community, and preserving them will help to prevent over development, as well as provide beautiful recreational space for our community to enjoy. I also support Green initiatives throughout the community, and assist with the Green Sustainability Committee and Environmental Commission’s efforts to provide public education on removal of invasive species plants and planting of native species. I’m a strong proponent of the recently adopted tree replacement ordinance. This will help to ensure funding is allocated to the township in order to purchase and maintain additional trees. I will also continue to advocate for, and support, all future open space land acquisitions.
Campaign Email vote@camforcouncil.org
My main priorities are tackling flooding, providing safer streets, and leading with a transparent and inclusive approach that I believe the current administration lacks.

The biggest challenge facing Denville is how we manage growth and development. Like all towns in New Jersey, we must meet affordable housing obligations, and our 4th round obligation is set at 277 units. Meeting this mandate responsibly is critical. I support affordable housing, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, single parents, and low-income workers. What concerns me is when projects maximize luxury units and minimize affordable ones, leaving taxpayers to shoulder costs for school and infrastructure upgrades. I am also cautious about the use of PILOT agreements, which divert funding away from schools.

Unchecked growth affects traffic, affordability, and quality of life. We need to meet obligations in ways that protect residents from rising taxes, prevent reckless overdevelopment, and respect our environment. My goal is to use my professional experience in planning, environmental review, and stakeholder engagement to help Denville find balanced, fiscally responsible solutions.
I am a licensed professional geologist and environmental scientist with a career focused on planning, permitting, and delivering critical infrastructure projects. My work has included water and wastewater upgrades, contaminated site remediation, and management of major energy, bridge, and tunnel projects. As a project manager and team leader, I am skilled in scoping, budgeting, and delivering complex projects for clients across the country.

I have never been unemployed, and am proud to contribute to society through my work. In 2023, my undergraduate university, Salem State University, honored me as a recipient of their "40 Under 40" award; presented to 40 alumni, under the age of 40, who are making a positive difference in their communities.

I have also supported the Township of Denville through my role at Mott MacDonald, providing expertise on property acquisition and environmental due diligence. That experience shows the Township has already trusted my judgment on important matters. I bring both technical knowledge and a practical understanding of how development decisions affect residents and the environment — expertise I believe is needed on the Council.
Denville’s downtown is the heart of our local economy. To keep it strong, we need to continue investing in infrastructure upgrades and beautification efforts so commerce can thrive. Local businesses are not just private enterprises — they are part of our town’s identity, drawing visitors from across Morris County.

I will support policies that make it easier for small businesses to succeed, such as reviewing permit and fee structures, promoting local events that bring customers downtown, and working with county and state partners to provide grant opportunities. Development should never come at the expense of our existing business community. As more housing and warehouses are proposed, we need to ensure that the costs of new growth are not pushed onto our small businesses through congestion, higher taxes, or inadequate infrastructure planning.

When our businesses succeed, our community succeeds.
In my view, federal immigration policy has had limited direct impact on Denville, but it has shaped the lives of many of our neighbors across Morris County. I believe in common-sense immigration laws that create a clear, legal pathway to citizenship for people who are here to contribute.

The inclusion of a skilled immigrant workforce strengthens our community and benefits the long-term success of our county. I do not see undocumented migrants as criminals by default — most are working, paying taxes, and contributing to the economy. I oppose heavy-handed enforcement tactics that create fear in our communities and believe strongly in due process under the Constitution. At the same time, I support strong action against serious crime, including deportation or incarceration when warranted.

Ultimately, this is about fairness and humanity. Local government has a role in ensuring that all residents, regardless of background, are treated with dignity and afforded fundamental rights.
Denville is the “Hub of Morris County” because of its central location and access to major highways. That location is both an opportunity and a responsibility. We need to strengthen infrastructure like roads, sidewalks, and public transportation, while planning for the future with more EV charging stations and better transit access. Affordable housing should be sited with transportation in mind, not in areas that lack walkability or access to services. I also support expanding sustainable options such as biking and public transit.

Protecting environmental quality must remain a priority. Overdevelopment can worsen flooding, strain infrastructure, and reduce open space. I will push for development that respects waterways, preserves green areas, and manages stormwater responsibly. Safer streets are also part of that vision, with stronger pedestrian protections, traffic calming, and improved walking and cycling access — especially as Denville grows in the coming decade.

With thoughtful planning and transparency, we can protect what makes Denville a great place to live. My background equips me to help the Township meet that challenge.