VOTE411 Voter Guide

I’m running for Commissioner to bring a fresh perspective to local issues, help build bridges between the unique communities that make up our County, and bring greater accountability and transparency to County government. As a Princeton resident, Trenton native, and former resident of Hamilton and Ewing, I have connections to many distinct municipalities around the County. I also come from a working-class family that struggled with the same types of issues that so many residents face daily and understand the disparities among our communities. That lived experience, combined with my professional experience as a municipal attorney and governance professional inspires me to serve at the County level. That’s also what makes me unique as a candidate. I’d bring that perspective to the role and take a multi-municipal approach to governance – which is very important given that there are 12 municipalities in Mercer County but only 7 seats on the Board of County Commissioners. My legal and governance background also leaves me well equipped to handle the fundamental responsibilities of the Board (approving county contracts, reviewing and approving the budget, and adopting the administrative code, ordinances, and resolutions) and to help improve the transparency, oversight, and accountability of County government. I offer not just a fresh perspective, but one that is grounded in experience and rooted in our community.

Over the next 3 years, affordability, infrastructure, and declining federal support will continue to be major challenges. Costs continue to rise and put a strain on residents. I would be mindful of this when it comes to reviewing and approving the budget and contracts and encourage fiscal responsibility and support for vulnerable populations and affordable housing. Aging infrastructure will continue to be a concern and liability issue. We should focus on modernization, sustainability, and investing strategically to ensure safety and long-term cost savings. Reduced federal funding will shift the burden to local government. To address this, I would engage in advocacy and promote strategic partnerships and operational efficiences.

County government often operates with little public awareness or engagement despite the important role it plays. Few people attend Commissioner meetings and they are not live-streamed or recorded, which makes participation more challenging. To promote greater involvement, transparency and accountability, I would encourage live-streaming or recording the meetings, producing summaries and periodically meeting in other locations to make the meetings more accessible. I would also pursue improvements to the website and the process for sharing meeting information, so that clear and adequate notice of meeting dates and agendas is provided. I’d also be visible and accessible to residents between meetings so they can be heard as decisions are made.

As an attorney and child of a formerly incarcerated parent, I understand the importance of resolving this situation from both a liability perspective and a human rights perspective. Any legally mandated issues should be immediately addressed and measures should be put in place to strengthen compliance, accountability, and transparency. To address long-term structural issues, another nearby facility would need to be used at least temporarily. The County should evaluate the feasibility of options for the existing jail, including the possibility of constructing a new facility rather than continuing to invest in short term fixes. We should also work to reduce the population with diversionary and reentry programs and accelerated case processing

While immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, it is important for local officials to help address the impact of ICE policies on our community. As an oversight and policy-making body, the Board should ensure that County policies and practices are consistent with State laws aimed at strengthening protections for immigrants, such as the Immigrant Trust Act, and adopt policies to address the impact of immigration enforcement and protect the rights of residents. The Board can also fund programs that support immigrant services and mitigate the impact on local businesses. Commissioners can also engage with community stakeholders to assess the needs of those impacted by ICE activity and help coordinate access to community resources.

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As a successful small business owner serving the Mercer County area for over 48 years, I have gained the public’s trust running my own business. I feel uniquely qualified to transfer that trust into my position as a public servant at a time when public trust is at an all-time low point. Helping organizations and individuals make purchasing decisions has been an important part of my job. The current board consists of seven members, who are all from one party. I don’t believe the current situation instills trust because the important component of checks and balances is missing. Honest checks and balances are a benchmark of our democracy and only a two-party solution can offer true diversity and transparency. The public deserves to trust that those making financial decisions come from diverse backgrounds and experiences, and that includes political party.

Small business is the backbone of our economic system. For far too long small business has been left out the decision making process. I a member of NFIB and a business owner for over 48 years. For our county economy to prosper and grow, it must support small business owners needs as well as those of large corporations. As commissioner, I plan to look deeply into ways the county can consolidate and streamline mandates, licensing, red tape, and paperwork for these businesses. Additionally, the budget levy this year increased 6.23 % at a time when family and small business budgets are strained. The county must look at ways to do thing more efficiently. This budget relies on drawing 34.8M from surplus, a dangerous budgetary practice.

No, there is not enough citizen participation. With nearly 400,000 residents, having only a handful of people attend meetings is not representative. In 2026, it is unacceptable that meetings are not consistently live streamed and easily accessible online. We need to modernize by broadcasting and archiving meetings and providing clear, easy-to-understand summaries of major decisions, especially budget items. When people can access and understand what’s happening, participation increases and trust is restored. Public comment on budget decisions should not only be tolerated but encouraged. Lack of trust and suspicion rises when there is one party making all the decisions, checks and balances are badly needed.

These accusations of conditions at the facility being inhumane are serious and must be addressed. We have a constitutional and moral obligation to ensure safe and humane treatment during incarceration. At the same time, simply transferring inmates and costs to another county is not a real solution that would leave Mercer at the mercy of another county for future costs we will have no control over. We need to fix our own system! That means insisting leadership improves staffing, morale, and operations, while enforcing accountability to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent properly and improvements are actually completed. We should evaluate ways to modernize and increase efficiencies to improve conditions while controlling long-term costs.

Our county, state, & federal law enforcement agencies should work together, not against each other. Clear communication & coordination are essential to keeping our communities safe & avoiding confusion between agencies. Communication technologies can enable real time communications between officers of different agencies. In many cases this does not presently exists & can cause misunderstandings & confusion. This issue should not be politicized, but handled through practical cooperation that supports officers doing their jobs while upholding the rule of law. As well, there must be accountability & transparency to maintain public trust. One way to improve public trust is to insist all internal affairs departments include public participation.

My candidacy is based in experience, integrity and a vast knowledge of County government and its many partners. Prior to being a Commissioner, I served on a local school board, planning board, and as the cross-acceptance representative for the last round of state cross acceptance plans. I had worked in my community to change the form of government utilizing the Faulkner Act and had spent significant time studying various forms of government available to communities. As the only educator in county government, it provides me with a unique perspective to understand community needs. In my profession as a special educator for over 30 years, the impact of governmental decisions on students, parents, and schools was clear. This experience solidified my belief in universal design, the importance of social services, and the need for education at all levels including technical-vocational, special services, and community colleges.My service as a union leader differs from my colleagues and gives me insight into the partnerships needed to support public service. Overarching all is a belief that all people must be treated with dignity and care. That includes our partners serving in municipal government as well as the many non-profits with whom we share a responsibility to provide for our residents. Finally, by knowing the many departments and how they work together within the structure of Mercer County's government it allows my work for residents to leverage dollars, adjust quickly to changes in laws and regulations, and keep an eye on projects and contracts in an effort to provide the most forward thinking, responsive, transparent and cost-efficient government. I believe our communities deserve nothing less.

The need to enhance technology is an area impacting all other areas of county government. As we move to provide technologically advanced usage we will reduce costs and improve services. County-wide reviews of technology have already taken place and implementation will be the next step. Affordability remains a challenge to Mercer County and New Jersey as a whole. The impacts on affordable housing, the transferring of costs created by HR1 legislation to county Boards of Social Services, and food insecurity are all areas that we are addressing by supporting agencies and creating direct service programs. The building of the airport terminal is a current need. Revision of the initial plan, funding, and phasing of the project is ongoing.

There is never enough public participation at the county level. The best projects are those that people take an interest in and become active participants in the process. We are moving towards streaming the Commissioner meetings to provide direct access. Our agendas are accessible online as are the minutes of the meetings. I think it speaks well of the Board that people often come to us with county and non-county concerns because they feel we are a source of information and have created a welcoming environment for the public. It would be my thought to invite government classes at the high school and college level to attend meetings. Also, our internship programs have also been a successful introduction to government leading to careers.

It is a critical need to create an environment that leads to successful re-entry into communities. Corrections cannot be a revolving door for inmates. We must upgrade conditions that exist , so that both inmates and correction officers are in a center that is safe, clean, and providing the re-entry needs that will break what is a cycle of incarceration. These include access to religious services, educational services, mental health services, medical care, and a move towards normative behavioral correction. The age of the facility impacts the cost through need for multiple posts and overtime. Currently an evaluation is being performed and as areas of need in the physical plant are identified they are being corrected.

In 2017, I asked for clarification of legal requirements regarding ICE requests and detainees. We meet these legal requirements and do not participate beyond these mandates. We actively protect from Federal voluntary requests the data of those seeking services from Mercer County. We provide information about what to do if stopped by ICE to residents. If a person is arrested and at the correction center, we do not hold persons beyond their time served or legal limit so that ICE can detain them. We do recognize Federal warrants as prescribed by law. We have passed resolutions calling on the state to pass various bills that expand our ability to protect our residents.