McCarthy and Bannan: Collaborative Governance Focused on Local Issues That Matter

We are incredibly fortunate to have a local "dream team" running for the Bernards Township Committee. In Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy and former Committeewoman Joan Bannan, we have two dedicated candidates with proven records of working in a bipartisan, collaborative manner to support our community.

At a time when deep political divides dominate the national landscape, the Township Committee should be focused on the practical needs of our residents. We have seen what happens when partisan politics bleed into local governance. Several years ago, members of our school board expended valuable resources fighting culture war issues (such as rejecting a teacher-recommended textbook) which ultimately brought unwanted press to our town and led to frustration among parents.

Subscribe

Neighboring Peapack-Gladstone has a borough councilman who has become a culture warrior, angering and dividing the community. Furthermore, the declaration by a former mayor in 2022 that voters chose to keep Bernards "fully Republican-run" dismissed the roughly two-thirds of our community who identify as Democrats or Independents.

When Ana Duarte McCarthy became mayor, she offered a refreshing and unifying vision. She explicitly stressed that "we're not a red town or a blue town" and pledged to work tirelessly for every single resident. True to her word, she has kept the Township Committee focused on local issues rather than partisan divisions.

One of her first actions was to reinstate the second public comment section at committee meetings, restoring transparency and ensuring all community voices are heard. Under her leadership, cooperation and communication on our bipartisan committee have improved significantly.

Joan Bannan shares this mindset. Her platform centers on active listening, fiscal responsibility, public safety, and strategic planning for sustainable development. Her collaborative spirit is recognized across the aisle. When she concluded her previous Township Committee term, the four Republican members, municipal staff, and residents alike praised her as, according to the Bernardsville News, "visionary, devoted, caring and collaborative" (Bernardsville News Dec 20, 2021 article).

A practicing attorney, Joan's extensive community service includes her present service on the Planning Board and prior tenures on the Board of Health and the Municipal Alliance. She has also served as a Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor and spent years volunteering in our schools while raising her four children. She has consistently worked to make Bernards a better place for all residents, and will continue to do so.

Let's maintain this positive momentum and keep our local government focused on what matters. Please cast your vote for Ana Duarte McCarthy and Joan Bannan this November, or return your mail-in ballot to the dropbox today.