Bernards Township Committee Primary Candidate: Sophia Chadda

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Dr. Sophia Chadda is one of two candidates running for township committee in the Bernards primary election being held on Tuesday, June 4.

Chadda is vying for the democratic ticket while Janice Fields is running on the Republican ticket. There is one seat up for grabs on the township committee.

Both candidates are vying for their party's nomination on June 4 and then will move on to the general election on Nov. 5.

See a link to Fields' responses at the bottom of the article:

Dr. Sophia Chadda

Description:

I have lived in Bernards Township for 20 years, raised my three children here and have been practicing as a board certified periodontist in town for the last 15 years. I graduated from Barnard College, Columbia University and went to dental school at State University of New York Buffalo and then completed my Periodontal residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey which is now Rutgers University. While in dental school, I researched the connection between dental disease and Cardiovascular Disease.

I am also a former assistant professor of periodontics at Rutgers Dental School and have held leadership positions in my professional organizations and societies. I am the past president of the Tri-County Dental Society of NJ and the past treasurer of the New Jersey Society of Periodontists. I have been awarded Top Dentist by New Jersey Monthly magazine in 2014 and 2015. I am a local small business owner. I am on the board of trustees of a nonprofit organization called the International Foundation for Progress which provides free education and healthcare for 175 children in Pakistan with a goal of supporting children in impoverished countries worldwide.

I am also a former member of the Bernards Township Board of Health (2005), and a current board member of the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge. I have volunteered at my children’s local schools
over the last 20 years, and am active with my alumni organizations. I am also very proud to be a participant in our county’s Leadership Somerset program whose goal it is to produce leaders who are dedicated to their communities.

What experience do you have that would help you serve?

As a local, small business owner, I enjoy the satisfaction, but also understand the challenges associated with owning and running a business, caring for patients, managing employees, and cultivating relationships with vendors and insurance companies. As a mother of children in elementary school, highschool, and college, I also understand the concerns and challenges of our parents.

Being in elected office is about listening. Residents have had to fight to be heard, and that is not representative government. For me, leadership is about service, and I have been serving people professionally for my entire career. Now I’d like to serve the public, and I believe our leaders should represent all of us. I know I can make a difference and I’d like to give back to this amazing community.

What issues would you like to address in Basking Ridge?

1. Transparency and inclusion in our local government — This cannot be stressed enough. Residents are engaged and want to be truly represented in the decisions that will impact their homes and lives. The only way to do this effectively is with transparency and inclusion.
2. New Housing Developments — In an effort to meet the affordable housing mandates,there are three new development projects on the horizon. We need to ensure these projects are executed well and can be supported by our current infrastructure. We need to proactively assess and address potential strains on traffic, schools, emergency services and public works. We also need to be working on alternative solutions to meet future affordable housing mandates. Just as the township is finishing up the current housing developments, we may be looking at additional affordable housing mandates in 2025. We need to be working now on alternative ways to meeting such mandates.
3. Mental Health Issues and the Opioid Crisis — We need to be proactive and continue to work with parents, schools and the community to effectively identify and address mental health issues as well as opioid and substance abuse. As a healthcare provider, I am part of the Prescription Monitoring Program, and although prescriptions have decreased by more than 40 percent, the number of overdoses has increased by 24 percent, going from six deaths a day in 2016 to eight deaths a day in 2017. I advocate for more education and outreach to parents, schools, and the community in concert with the Municipal Alliance, Bernards Township Police Department, and Bernards Township EMT. We need to work together and support one another in prevention, intervention, and recovery.
4. Sustainability — I’d like to see a significant reduction in single-use bags and plastics in our town. This is not just about "Going Green". It is about taking care of the environment starting right here in our own backyard. We are educated and conscientious, and we have wonderful models around us as well. Before bans or ordinances, I believe we can and should work together to make Bernards Township one of the leading towns in the state to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
5. Infrastructure — We have a surplus and are debt free yet the township is just starting to use funds along with grant money from the state to update our infrastructure and keep it safe. The township has seen the population balloon and has sat idle on this issue. Our walking and bike paths are also in need of repair. Also, we have wasted taxpayer money on unnecessary expenditures such as litigation, PR consultants and medical benefits on part time employees. While some may say this expenditures are only a drop in the bucket, I believe we need to make every dollar count.

Why should voters vote for you?

I would like to see local government that is more inclusive and transparent. I believe that we need different voices including diverse ones. I feel that my background is unique in that I offer a fresh perspective and a different skill set than what the town may be used to. Having studied in the field of dentistry and specializing as a periodontist, I have a science-based, fact-driven, evidence-based and collaborative mindset and approach.

See Fields' responses here.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

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