Rodgers Announces Candidacy for Caldwell Council

Frank Rodgers, of Erwin Place, announced Thursday his plan to run for Caldwell council in the upcoming November special election. Rodgers, running as a Democrat, seeks to fill a seat left vacant by former Councilman Gordon Lawshe.

Lawshe resigned from the council in July when he accepted a position as the sports programs/membership director at the Caldwell Community Center. Lawshe was in the second year of his three-year term.

Republican Doug Piazza was appointed in August by the council to replace Lawshe until the winner of November's special election is certified. Piazza, who also lives on Erwin Place, has said that he intends to run to fill the remainder of the unexpired term.

Rodgers has lived in Caldwell for 18 years with his wife, Maria, and their five children, all of whom attend Caldwell public schools.

Rodgers has taught math at Hackettstown High School for 20 years, and has been named both educator and coach of the year. His community involvement includes volunteering as football director for the Caldwell Athletic Club's Junior Chiefs for five years. He is also a member of the Caldwell Grid Iron Club and a parishioner of St. Aloysius Church. 

Rodgers grew up in North Caldwell and graduated from West Essex High School. He is a graduate of Rutgers University and has a master's degree in mathematics from Montclair State University.

"I want to return civility and competence to the Caldwell council. The partisan bickering is relentless," Rodgers said in statement announcing his candidacy. "The issues facing Caldwell are real and need to be addressed head on."

Rodgers stated further that he will focus on the issues that impact residents on a daily basis and promised to be an independent voice. "I will govern based upon the values of the citizens and the facts before me," he said. "I will not be a rubber stamp for either party."