Bridgewater Primary Election 2023: Matthew Moench

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Bridgewater's primary election on June 6 has two candidates running for Mayor and four candidates running for two open seats on the Township Council.

Incumbent Matthew Moench is one of three Republican candidates running in the uncontested primary. Moench is running for Mayor along with incumbent Michael Kirsh and Timothy Ring for council.

Additionally, there are three Democratic candidates Saad Toor who is running for Mayor along with Marguerite Baranowski and Gigi Ksalak who are running for council in the uncontested primary.

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

Matthew Moench

Age: 40

Town of residence: I am a lifelong Bridgewater resident and still call this amazing town my home.

Position sought: Mayor of the Township of Bridgewater

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: I have been married to my creative, gracious, and strong wife Stephanie for 15 years. We have three amazing children: Jackson, Emmanuella, and Julia.

Education: After graduating Bridgewater-Raritan High School in 2000, I attended Rutgers where I received my degree, double majoring in Cellular Biology/Neuroscience and Political Science. From there I attended Seton Hall Law School, graduating with my J.D. in 2007.

Occupation: I practice law and have been doing so since I graduated law school. I now have my own general practice firm and enjoy the work immensely.

Previous or current elected appointed office: I am the current Mayor of Bridgewater, finishing my first four-year term in that office. Prior to becoming Mayor, I served as a Councilman on the Bridgewater Town Council for 12 years, both as the Council President and as a Council member.

Campaign website:

Why are you seeking re-election?

Although I am proud of all we have achieved in the last four years, I know there is still much more work to be done on behalf of our community. I am seeking re-election this year so I can finish the job the voters sent me here to do four years ago.

Over the course of my current tenure, I have had the privilege of witnessing the transformative power of effective leadership. Together, we have:

• Won a historic victory against overdevelopment through the defeat of the original Center of Excellence proposal
• Taken a huge step toward the renewal of our infrastructure by paving over 50 miles of Township road in 4 years—tangible progress which is result completely without precedent in Bridgewater’s history
• Joined with the Police Department to create BridgewaterSHIELD, a landmark community policing initiative for Bridgewater
• Revolutionized transparency and responsiveness by creating the Office of Constituent Relations, which has addressed and resolved thousands of resident inquiries
• Accomplished all of this while keeping taxes stable even through the instability of a global pandemic

But the job isn’t done. I firmly believe that our accomplishments thus far are just the beginning of what we can achieve together. We must keep our eyes firmly fixed forward, and strive every day to make wise, careful decisions for the good of our amazing town. By seeking re-election, I aim to continue the momentum we have built and further propel Bridgewater Township towards a future of prosperity and excellence.

Balancing the township budget becomes more difficult each year with inflation and the loss of revenue since COVID. How do you plan to address this?

Balancing the budget amidst the pandemic and rampant inflation was a challenge for Bridgewater, as it was for thousands of families in our community. We met that challenge the same way they did: by making responsible decisions, and doing more with less.

When the pandemic hit, our commercial tax revenues plummeted. When inflation skyrocketed, our purchasing power decreased commensurately. In both cases, I made it the mission of my administration to take every possible measure to protect our residents from additional financial burdens. We made deep cuts in non-essential spending, and even lost some valued Township personnel, while preserving essential services and functions. In other words, we made prudent financial decisions, and we found a way to do more with less.

The results speak for themselves: our residents saw only one extremely small tax increase in 2021—the year the economic effects of the pandemic were most severe. The 2020, 2022 and 2023 budgets have all featured either a flat municipal tax rate, or a small decrease.

Here’s the bottom line: your money belongs in your pocket, so you can use it to take care of your family. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the inflation crisis, we took decisive action to keep as much of it there as possible.

Having trust and transparency in the township government is important to residents. How has the township improved on this or how would you improve this?

One of my first actions when I took office in 2020 was to create the Office of Constituent Relations. I gave them a simple mission: ensure that Bridgewater is as transparent and responsive to our residents as we can possibly be.

In the years since, they have received, addressed and resolved thousands of constituent inquiries. As I write these words, OCR is coordinating with every single office in this Township to ensure that our residents are getting the exemplary service they deserve.

We can’t solve every problem, but we can solve a lot of them—and whether we can solve it or not, each and every resident deserves an honest and timely answer from their municipal government. I created OCR to ensure that they get it.

We have also taken steps to increase transparency by making information about local government and police policies readily available to the public. Between our website updates, our bimonthly newsletter, our enhanced social media presence, and the utilization of Nixle alerts, we have increased the ability of our residents to have the most recent information available to them at a moment’s notice.

I also must mention BridgewaterSHIELD, the groundbreaking Community Policing initiative we have created in conjunction with Chief Mitzak and the BPD. BridgewaterSHIELD is designed to grow and strengthen the trust between the brave men and women of the BPD and the residents they serve. This initiative has been an incredible success thus far, hosting multiple Coffee with Command Staff events where residents can access our Chief and his Sergeants for regular conversations over coffee, to a Public Availability of the VR trainer our own police force uses for training purposes, to the very first Citizens’ Police Academy with a full cohort of Bridgewater residents.

How do you feel about the current state of the township's parks and playgrounds, such as KidStreet? Is there anything you would like to improve and how would you propose doing that?

Bridgewater has some of the most beautiful and well-equipped parks and playgrounds in the state. Like every resident of Bridgewater, I am immensely proud of all of them. KidStreet in particular remains a hugely popular attraction, even decades since its construction.

However, I also recognize the need for continuous improvement to ensure they remain safe, enjoyable, and inclusive spaces for all now and in the years to come.

That is this year we have already begun extensive work on a reexamination and renewal of Bridgewater’s Master Plan. That reexamination process will provide many opportunities both in person and virtually for our residents to provide their input into how our parks and recreational spaces are maintained and improved for the next decade and more. Their input will guide us in identifying areas for improvement, such as the addition of new play structures, increased accessibility features, or the integration of more recreational activities. This collaborative approach will allow us to align our efforts with the evolving needs of our community well into the future.

Simultaneously, we will continue to conduct regular assessments and maintenance checks to ensure that the equipment is in excellent condition, addressing any repairs or replacements promptly. By investing in quality materials and adhering to rigorous safety standards, we can create a secure and inviting environment for children and families to enjoy.

Furthermore, we will explore opportunities for partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and volunteer groups to support park enhancements through sponsorships, donations, and community-led initiatives. By harnessing the collective power of our community, we can make significant strides in improving our parks and playgrounds without placing undue strain on the township's budget.

How do you feel about the current status of township roadways and the current road improvement plan?

Of all we have achieved in the past four years, I may be most proud of the inarguable progress we’ve made fixing our Bridgewater roads.

By the time this year is out, we will have reconstructed over 200 individual Township roads. As far as we are aware, that bottom-line result is absolutely without precedent in the history of Bridgewater Township. And, in order to make sure we carry out this critical work with complete transparency, we created ourBWroads.com—a website where any resident can see each and every road we’ve done in the past few years, and track the real-time progress of every road project this year.

Of course, we understand that some residents may feel disappointed that their road has not seen any work. I want to reassure everyone that we are not finished, and if re-elected we will continue to prioritize all roads that need improvement in the years to come.

Our five-year plan has been a major undertaking, but I am confident that it is the right approach for our community. With the 2023 Road construction list now available on www.OurBWRoads.com, residents can see exactly which roads are scheduled for remediation this year.

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

I think there can never be too much focus on maintaining and improving the quality of life for residents of Bridgewater. That can mean a lot of things in a lot of different areas, but I can mention a few specifically.

First, overdevelopment: we won a hard-fought victory over the original Center of Excellence proposal. The final product is far more consistent with the character and needs of our community, and that is as it should be. Development isn’t an inherently bad thing for our community—provided that it is consistent with and considerate of the character, needs and harmony of Bridgewater. That is why I recently championed and the Council passed an ordinance which greatly enhances our ability to control warehouse-related development projects in Bridgewater.

I promise you this much: for as long as I am your Mayor, this government will fight tooth and nail to preserve the character of this community we love. We have already proven that more than once, and we will prove it again as many times as are necessary.

Another priority of mine is efficiency and accessibility of municipal government. We are always seeking new solutions and optimizations which will allow us to make it easier for our residents to carry on their business with the municipal government. I would especially like to explore a brand- new website built around an accessible, responsive interface oriented toward the resident’s ease of use.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

While each candidate brings their own unique strengths and perspectives, I am the only one in this race who has an inarguable record of achievement and tangible success in municipal government. I am proud of all the accomplishments I’ve discussed here not because they say anything about me personally, but because they say a great deal about what we can achieve working together as a community.

My extensive experience in public service and leadership positions equips me with a deep understanding of the complexities and responsibilities involved in serving our community. Throughout my tenure, I have demonstrated a commitment to transparent and accountable governance, actively engaging with residents, and listening to their concerns and aspirations. This experience has provided me with the insights and skills necessary to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead and help Bridgewater continue its forward momentum.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

Bridgewater is, and always has been the place that I call home. I often joke that the longest I’ve ever been away from this town was between visits home from Rutgers. I grew up here, I went to school here, I married a fellow Bridgewater resident and together we chose to raise our kids here. Not because it was convenient, but because we wanted them to grow up with the same education and overall quality of life that has done so much for us.

One of my primary motivations has always been the unwavering pride and gratitude I have for our Township and its people. Bridgewater is not just a place on a map; it is a vibrant community we share with neighbors, friends, and loved ones. I am passionate about building a community that the residents of Bridgewater - not just today, but the residents of 5, 10, 25 years in the future - can be proud of.