Bernards Township General Election 2026: Paul Humbert

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards' general election on Nov. 4 has four candidates running for two open seats on the Township Committee.

Paul Humbert is one of two Republican candidates running in the general election. Kirsten Light is the other Republican candidate running.

Additionally, there are two Democratic candidates: current Mayor Ana Duarte McCarthy and Joan Bannan.

All of the candidates are running for the two, three-year seats on the township committee.

Are you running for office in Basking Ridge? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Basking Ridge Patch.

Paul Humbert

Age: 75

Town of residence: Basking Ridge, NJ

Position sought: Bernards Township Committee

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: My family and I have lived in Bernards Township since 1980. I raised my children here, and they attended St. James School and Ridge High School.

Education: J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law, 1980; B.A. in Business, University of Akron, 1973.

Occupation: Retired attorney, small business owner, and founder of The Humbert Group. My professional background includes law, business, education, procurement, supply-chain
optimization, budgeting, and the negotiation and management of complex commercial transactions.

Previous or current elected appointed office: None

Campaign website: HumbertForBernards.com

Why are you seeking election for the Bernards Township Committee?

I have lived in Bernards Township since 1980. I raised my family here, and I care deeply about protecting the qualities that have made this such a wonderful place to live.

I am running because Bernards faces significant decisions involving taxes, development, affordable housing mandates, our schools, infrastructure, and public safety. These decisions will affect our community for decades.

My professional career required me to analyze complicated financial and contractual issues, negotiate effectively, control costs, and consider long-term consequences. I believe those skills can benefit our Township.

I want to help keep Bernards financially strong, safe, and welcoming while preserving the charm and quality of life that brought so many of us here.

The need for special needs housing has been discussed in the Township. How would you propose tackling this issue?

Special-needs housing deserves thoughtful attention because families need appropriate long-term options for loved ones who may require supportive living arrangements.

Bernards' current affordable-housing plan already incorporates supportive and special-needs housing, and I believe we should continue exploring opportunities that meet genuine community needs while fitting responsibly into the charm of the Township.

I would look at partnerships with experienced nonprofit and housing organizations, the appropriate use of our Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and opportunities to incorporate supportive housing into our affordable-housing strategy.

The goal should not simply be to construct units. It should be to create safe, sustainable housing that allows residents with special needs to remain connected to their families and community.

With rising healthcare costs and inflation, how do you propose keeping tax increases to a minimum?

Healthcare costs are putting significant pressure on municipal budgets. Bernards' 2026 budget, for example, reflects a substantial increase in State Health Benefits Program costs.

My approach would begin with a detailed, line-by-line review of municipal spending. We should continually examine purchasing, contracts, insurance, shared services, staffing costs, and opportunities to obtain greater value for every taxpayer dollar.

My background includes procurement, supply-chain management, contracts, and complex commercial negotiations. Those disciplines are built around controlling costs and demanding value.

I would also explore additional joint-purchasing and shared-service opportunities where they make financial and operational sense.

My objective would be to keep municipal tax increases at or below inflation whenever reasonably possible without compromising public safety or essential services.

Looking at the necessity to meet the state's affordable housing obligation while also avoiding overdevelopment, do you feel the Township Committee has been balancing this well? Or how would you propose balancing this issue?

Bernards Township must comply with the law as it exists today, but that does not mean we should quietly accept every mandate coming out of Trenton.

New Jersey’s affordable-housing requirements increasingly place decisions that should involve substantial local control into the hands of state government, the courts, and developers. I believe Bernards should meet its legal obligations while also fighting for meaningful reform of a system that can force communities to absorb development without adequate consideration of local roads, schools, infrastructure, environmental constraints, or the taxpayers who ultimately bear many of the costs.

As a Township Committee member, I would advocate aggressively for greater local control and work with our state representatives and other municipalities seeking changes to the current system.

At the same time, we must protect Bernards under the law. That means pursuing every reasonable option available to satisfy our obligation with the least possible impact on our
community, including supportive and special-needs housing, rehabilitation, affordability programs, and other alternatives to large-scale development.

Affordable housing is an important need. But Trenton should not use that need as a justification for one-size-fits-all mandates that diminish local decision-making. My priority will be to protect Bernards from unnecessary overdevelopment while preserving the charm, affordability, and
quality of life of our Township.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the Township?

Affordability and overdevelopment are among my highest priorities, but they are closely connected to several other issues.

We must protect public safety by properly supporting our police and first responders. We need to carefully monitor the impact of additional development on our schools, traffic, infrastructure, emergency services, and municipal finances.

I also believe Bernards should remain debt-free and continue a pay-as-you-go philosophy whenever practical rather than passing today's expenses to tomorrow's taxpayers.

Finally, residents deserve transparency. Major decisions should include clear cost information, long-term impact analysis, and meaningful opportunities for public input.

What is your favorite thing about living in Bernards Township?

The sense of community.

Bernards has managed to remain a place where neighborhoods matter, families put down roots, people volunteer, residents support one another, and you still regularly run into people you know around town.

We also have good schools, beautiful open spaces, strong public safety, and a rich history. But what makes all of those things meaningful is the people who call Bernards home.

After more than four decades here, this community is an important part of my family's story. I want future generations to have the same opportunity to enjoy it.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

My campaign is centered on a straightforward idea: preserve what works in Bernards while preparing responsibly for the future.

I am a fiscal conservative, but I also believe local government works best when people are willing to listen to one another, examine the facts, and work toward practical solutions.

I will bring decades of experience in law, business, contracts, procurement, negotiations, and problem-solving to the Township Committee. I will ask difficult questions, scrutinize spending, support our police and first responders, oppose unnecessary overdevelopment, and work to protect the affordability and quality of life of our community.

Most importantly, I intend to represent all Bernards residents, regardless of political affiliation.

Local government should be about solving problems and serving the community we all share.