Matthew Moench​: 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.

Republican Matthew Moench is running for Mayor against Democrat Jeffrey J. Brookner 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 Moench 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.

Matthew Moench

Describe yourself:

My name is Matthew Moench, age 37, and I am running for Mayor of Bridgewater. My wife,
Stephanie, and I are both lifelong Bridgewater residents. I graduated Bridgewater-Raritan High School in 2000 and attended Rutgers College where I received a degree in Cell Biology/Neuroscience and Political Science. I then attended Seton Hall Law School receiving my J.D. in 2007.

I have practiced law since that time and currently have my own general practice law firm. My wife and I have three children, 7, 5, and (almost) 3. My two oldest attend Hamilton School where I went to elementary school, and the youngest is in pre-school.

What experience do you have that would help you serve?

I currently serve on the Bridgewater Council and this year have the role of Council President. I have been engaged in community service in our township since the time I was in high school when I volunteered on the Martinsville Rescue Squad. In addition to serving on the council, I have been a member of the Recreation Board, County Planning Board, Bridgewater Board of Adjustment, and Bridgewater Planning Board. I have been involved with government personally and professionally and have gained significant insight as to what makes for "good" government and what doesn’t work in the best interests of our residents. As a small business owner, I understand the pressures faced by residents when taxes are impacted, and as a lifelong resident, I understand the quality of life issues threatening our township.

What issues would you like to address in Bridgewater?

Our town is currently on a path of overdevelopment that will drastically impact the future of our community. Numerous proposals, including, but not limited to, the Center of Excellence on 202-206 threaten to place hundreds of more children into our school system. That will increase our school taxes and decrease the quality of education — which in turn will decrease our property values. Municipal taxes will rise as a result of the need for more municipal services, and the developers for these such projects are seeking reductions in taxes from the township that will further increase taxes. I do not support this path and want to see the township plan to protect our community from future overdevelopment.

We also need a long-term, transparent road plan that provides for our infrastructure needs and does so without relying upon debt as the main source of funding. We need to ensure that our police force has the staff that it needs to protect our community, but that we also evaluate scheduling changes that would increase the quality of life for our officers and decrease the costs to Bridgewater taxpayers.

Why should voters vote for you?

My wife and I love this town. My parents are here. My in-laws are here. My sister and her family have just moved back to town. As lifelong residents, this township is in our blood, and with three young children we are invested in the future of our home. We need a mayor who understands the needs and desires of the residents of Bridgewater — not out-of-town special interests who seek to profit off of our quality of life.

Decisions about development, about taxes, about our roads, and our police should be made with significant public input, in a transparent manner, and done with the residents’ interests in mind, first and foremost. We have not seen that in Bridgewater lately, and it shows in the negative changes to our town and the unpopular plans for the future.

I believe small government is the best government, and that local government should be responsive. I am proud to be from Bridgewater and am honored for the opportunity to run for mayor.

Contact Information:

Email: matthewcmoench@gmail.com
Phone: 908-208-1910

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

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