Democratic candidates for TC to attend Charter Day

Democratic candidates for Bernards Township Committee Joan Harris and Bobby Mascia kicked off their official campaign on Saturday, May 5th, at the Allen Street gazebo in Basking Ridge. A sizeable crowd gathered on the beautiful, sunny morning to meet Harris and Mascia and hear from other representatives of the Democratic party.

Joan Harris was one of two Democratic candidates who ran for Township Committee last year, narrowly losing to the Republicans; it was the closest a Democratic candidate had come to gaining a seat on the committee in decades. Bobby Mascia is running for the first time. Both candidates offered strong messages of determination and hope for Bernards Township.

“Quality of life isn’t all about dollars, open space, or services,” Harris told the crowd. “It’s about smart development, not overdevelopment. It’s about supporting existing local businesses. It’s about people. It’s about inclusion, making our neighbors and township volunteers feel valued, heard, and respected. It’s about supporting the most vulnerable members of our community when needed, such as those left without power after a storm. And, perhaps most importantly, our children, who according to a recent school report are being seen in increasing numbers for mental health conditions.”

Harris last year campaigned on a platform of support for mental health efforts, among other things, and is on the township Board of Health and the Municipal Alliance Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse, where she chairs the Stigma-Free Initiative.

Mascia emphasized his commitment to making the Township Committee a governing body that every resident can count on. “We’ve had some troubling and complex run-ins with plans that have brought us into litigation, bad press around the township’s tactics, and a lack of transparency that has led to mistrust,” he said. “It’s amazing how much a fresh set of eyes from an outside view can open up possibilities for improvement. I let everyone know there are two things that are most important in creating a new relationship—communication and transparency. Our goal here is to bring those same thought processes to the committee.”

Harris and Mascia were joined by Tom Malinowski, Democratic candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s district 7; Steve Peter, Somerset County Clerk; and Shanel Robinson and Sara Sooy, candidates for Freeholder.