Caldwell Mayor Launches Re-Election Campaign, Names 2 Council Running Mates

CALDWELL, NJ — Caldwell Mayor Garrett Jones is back on the campaign trail – and he has two borough council candidates backing his bid for re-election.

Jones recently announced his 2026 campaign slate, which includes two Republican running mates who are seeking seats on the council: Caldwell Fire Department Chief Andrew Pollara, and planning board member Brian Bambrick.

The mayor threw his support behind Pollara and Bambrick.

“Andrew and Brian are both men of integrity, commitment, and deep love for our community,” Jones said. “They each bring valuable experience, strong leadership, and a genuine desire to serve the people of Caldwell.”

“I have seen firsthand their dedication to this borough, and I know they are ready to step up and help continue the important work of moving Caldwell forward,” Jones said.

Jones was elected as mayor in 2022.

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Jones’ campaign team released the following summary of his administration’s achievements since he has taken office:

“Mayor Jones and his team are running to continue the progress Caldwell has made over the last 36 months. Together, they have focused on delivering real results by restoring fiscal stability, improving essential services, and making long-overdue investments in the community. Over the past three years, the administration purchased a new $1.67 million ladder truck for the fire department, resolved costly sewer litigation, brought the borough budget back into the black for the first time in three and a half years, and restored approximately $15 million in bonding capacity to address roads and infrastructure. The team also secured a long-term home for borough government, the library, and the court through the purchase of the new municipal building at 80 Bloomfield Avenue, a decision that saved taxpayers significant money compared to new construction and will ultimately create additional parking and landscaping improvements in the Smull Avenue area. At the same time, the administration has worked to improve quality of life for residents by expanding the police department from 18 to 22 officers, strengthening the volunteer fire department with new equipment and technology, advancing flood mitigation and roadway improvements, substantially reducing engineering costs, completing renovations to the Irene Gibbons Health and Human Services Building, and moving forward with major sewer treatment plant upgrades after ending litigation, including reducing stormwater infiltration, beginning clarifier improvements this summer, and proposing the cleaning and lining of the sanitary sewer line along Brookside Avenue and Westville Avenue from Bloomfield Avenue to Washburn Place. The administration also put the restoration of the Old Library Building out to bid this week as part of the plan to create a new Civic Center for Caldwell, completed the sale of 22 Smull Avenue, and negotiated a new three-year agreement with North Creek to oversee and operate the borough’s recycling yard that will provide approximately $21,000 per year to the borough, paid in advance, while also recovering outstanding lease payments that had not been collected under the prior administration.”

Pollara and Bambrick each said they were eager to join Jones’ slate.

“From a renewed focus on fiscal responsibility to investments in public safety and infrastructure, Caldwell has continued moving in the right direction under his leadership,” Pollara said.

“I have spent my life here in Caldwell, and I care deeply about its future,” Bambrick said.

“Garrett has provided steady leadership for Caldwell and has worked hard to move our borough in the right direction, and Andrew brings a unique perspective and a real dedication to our community,” he added. “I look forward to working with both of them and the rest of the council to continue serving our residents and keeping Caldwell the kind of town we are all proud to call home.”

The candidates have received endorsements from several other Republican elected officials in the area, including New Jersey Sen. Kristin Corrado and Assemblymen Al Barlas and Christopher DePhillips.

The slate has also seen local endorsements from Caldwell Council President Barbara Buechner and fellow council members Kris Brown and Darren Daniolowicz.

“I have every confidence in their ability to lead with professionalism, dedication, and a true sense of responsibility to our residents,” Buechner said. “They have my full support, and I am proud to stand with them.”

“This is a powerhouse ticket,” agreed Barlas, who serves as Essex County Republican Committee chair.

“They possess a deep institutional understanding of the issues facing Caldwell, they have earned the trust of residents, and they are prepared to lead from day one,” Barlas said. “This team reflects the kind of experienced, commonsense leadership that delivers results, and I am proud to support them.”

Jones’ campaign team provided the following background details about the 2026 candidate slate:

GARRETT JONES – Mayor Garrett Jones was inspired by his parents, the late Roger and Dolores Jones, and has built a record of service as a funeral director, mentor, church leader, nonprofit volunteer, and civic organizer. Known to many families through his work in the funeral profession, Garrett opened Garrett Jones Memorial Homes in Roseland and Cedar Grove in 2022 and is currently serving his second term on the New Jersey Board of Mortuary Science. He has also served in leadership roles with numerous local organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Caldwell-West Essex, American Legion James Caldwell Post #185, and the Rotary-Kiwanis Street Fair. Garrett has been recognized by local fire, police, civic, and charitable organizations for his service, and in 2024, Caldwell University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Many residents also know Garrett as the familiar face of Santa Claus during the holidays, a tradition he has proudly carried on for more than 20 years. Rooted in faith, family, and service, Garrett remains committed to giving back to the community he has always called home. Garrett has served as Mayor of the Borough of Caldwell since 2023.

ANDREW POLLARA – Andrew Pollara graduated from James Caldwell High School in 2001 and Unity College in 2005. Andrew currently serves as the Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation for Wayne Township. His Caldwell roots trace back generations, as his grandmother graduated from then-Grover Cleveland High School in 1940. Throughout his life, Andrew has remained committed to serving the Caldwell community. He has been an active volunteer with the Caldwell Fire Department for over 24 years, where he currently serves as Chief of Department. He is also the Borough’s Deputy OEM Coordinator. Andrew lives in town with his wife and fellow JCHS alum, Allison, who is a first-grade teacher at Lincoln School; his son Tommy, a senior at Seton Hall Prep; his daughter Madison, a junior at JCHS; and his two chihuahuas, Katie and Pepper.

BRIAN BAMBRICK – Brian Bambrick is a lifelong Caldwell resident with deep roots in the community and a long record of service to the borough he calls home. A graduate of Seton Hall Prep and Villanova University, Brian has spent decades supporting Caldwell’s youth, coaching local athletics, serving in Recreation programs, and volunteering as Saint Aloysius CYO Basketball Director and coach. He and his wife, Laura, have raised their three children, Alex, Jimmy, and Kelly, in Caldwell, where family, faith, and community remain at the center of their lives. Brian currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Caldwell Borough Planning Board and is a former member of the Environmental Committee. A longtime parishioner of Saint Aloysius Parish, he has also served on the Parish Council and is an active member of the Knights of Columbus. Professionally, Brian brings more than 34 years of private-sector experience with Tennant Company, where he serves as Corporate Manager of Global Accounts. His lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and Caldwell’s future reflects his dedication to keeping the borough a strong, welcoming, and thriving community.

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