Jeffrey J. Brookner: Bridgewater Mayoral Candidate Profile

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — There is a heated and contested race for the Bridgewater Mayor and Council this upcoming November election due to ongoing issues of development in the township.

Democrat Jeffrey J. Brookner is running for Mayor against Republican Matthew Moench and Libertarian Gregg Mele. Moench currently serves as council president.

There are also two, three-year council seats up for grabs with Republicans Michael Kirsh and Timothy Ring running against Democrats John Arcoleo and Patti Selikoff.

The election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Here is a look at who Brookner is and why he is running. Candidates were asked to answer the same questions and each candidate profile will be posted on Patch's site as it gets closer to the election.

Jeffrey J. Brookner

Describe yourself:

Jeffrey Brookner, age 50, Bridgewater resident since 1999. Wife – Carrie Brookner. Children – Dennis (BRHS class of '15); Jessica (BRHS class of '20).

What experiences do you have to that would help you serve?

I have been an attorney for 25 years, including 20 in New Jersey and the last 10 years with my own practice in Bridgewater handling business matters. Many of my cases have involved various aspects of municipal law, including land-development matters at all levels (planning board, zoning board, trial, and appeal). Notably, I represented the Stop 18 Homes community group in Bridgewater, successfully blocking an unpopular and poorly conceived development application off of Foothill Road. With this experience, I am thoroughly familiar with land-use law, enabling me to identify problems with a development application before the process is too far along to stop it.

Additionally, I have represented the people of Bridgewater on the Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education for the last 12 years, including three years as board president. Our schools excel in a wide array of areas, including academics, athletics, music, robotics, art, and many more. While most of the credit goes to teachers, administrators, and other staff, I am proud of the role I have played. Meanwhile, despite severe budgetary constraints, the district has reduced its debt from almost $70 million to just over $20 million. This stands in stark contrast to the Township’s spiraling debt.

Also, I am a member of the Somerset County Business Partnership's Board of Directors and chair of its Legislative Affairs Committee. In these roles, I have established positive relationships with countless municipal, county, state, and federal elected officials. Both Democrats and Republicans know and respect me, which will make it easier for me to get things done for Bridgewater.

What issues would you like to address in Bridgewater?

Transparency. During my tenure on the BOE, I have been a strong proponent of governing transparently and bringing a wide array of stakeholders into all major decisions. Openness invites criticism — and I can assure you we get plenty of it. But this criticism helps us make better decisions. By inviting more and earlier input from the public, the township government under my leadership will make better decisions, too.

Smart development. I love Bridgewater, and want to prevent it from becoming overdeveloped. I fully recognize that business development is important to the Township's future, but poorly planned development can be crippling. All projects — especially major projects — need to be reviewed carefully. An open and independent Planning Board must listen to all stakeholders. Concerns about critical issues, such as flood control and traffic impact, must be addressed before projects get too far along.

Better roads. Bridgewater's roads and other infrastructure get worse every year. I will put a renewed emphasis on improving the Township's infrastructure rather than patching over problems and letting them continue to get worse.

Why should voters vote for you?

For too many decades, Bridgewater politics have been dominated by one party. The Township's important boards and commissions are dominated by loyal party insiders. As Mayor, I will see that decisions are made more collaboratively and transparently, and that politicians are more accountable to the voters. I look forward to bringing my diverse background to the Mayor's office and ensuring that Bridgewater remains a desirable, family-oriented community for years to come.

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

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