Brick Township School Board Election 2023: Mike Mesmer

BRICK, NJ — Election Day 2023 is near, and Brick Township voters will be choosing members for the Board of Education in addition to other candidates at the local, county and state levels.

There are two, three-year terms on the Brick Township Board of Education up for election, and four candidates for the two seats.

Patch sent a questionnaire to all of the candidates seeking their responses. Here are the replies from Mike Mesmer.

Your Name: Mike Mesmer

Age (as of Election Day): 34

Campaign Website: https://www.ourchildrenfirstboe.com/

Family: Wife, Gina Mesmer; son, Logan Mesmer (2.5 years old); mother, Diane Mesmer; father, Jim Mesmer; brother, Scott Mesmer.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for. No.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Stockton University and master’s degree from Rutgers Business School.

Occupation: Senior manager in charge of contracts and pricing at Bracco Diagnostics (12 years of experience within the health care industry). Also, a current board member for the Health care Materials Management Society of NJ with the title vice president of education (2.8 years of experience).

Previous or current elected or appointed office: I have no previous experience in office. I am currently seeking my first elected position on the Brick Board of Education knowing my son will soon be entering the school district

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am running for the Board of Education because there is a clear lack of transparency between the school district and parents. I want to help the parents be heard, and I will ask the tough questions to get answers. As someone who has graduated through the entire school district, I want to ensure that decisions being made will prioritize our children’s health, safety, and wellbeing. As a lifelong Brick resident, this community is the only place I know, and I would like to ensure our children are provided with all the tools needed to become successful.

What do you see as the role of the Board of Education?

The Board of Education advocates for the students and parents of the community by representing their ideas, views, and values, while also setting policies and procedures which set the tone for how the school district operates.

State funding has been cut consistently for the Brick Township Schools over the last 7 years. How would you address that?

I would look for creative ways to increase funding while also relentlessly continuing to request more funding from Trenton. One option I would explore is hiring a grantsman to help find grants and funding opportunities that are getting missed. This hire would also have a minimum impact on the school budget as many grantsman get paid a percentage of the funding they secure. Another option I would pursue is creating booster clubs and more fundraising opportunities to help allocate additional funds into the school programs that need it the most.

What do you believe is the most important issue for students and families in the Brick Township Schools?

Besides the continued state funding cuts occurring in the district, I believe the lack of transparency when it comes to parental rights is a major concern for families. If elected, I would focus on providing full transparency on all policy and budget decisions, with parent, guardian, and taxpayer input at the forefront. Parents should be made aware of all matters involving their children, regardless of the situation at hand.