Get To Know Chatham Borough Council Candidate Bob Weber

Editor's Note: Patch sent out questionnaires to every candidate who filed a petition of candidacy by the deadline. We sent them to the email addresses registered as the official campaign emails at the County Clerk's Office. We will run the responses in the order they were received with no edits. Those candidates who did not receive a questionnaire should double check their spam folders, email filed with the clerk and contact russ.crespolini@patch.com for a form.

Name

Robert (Bob) Weber

Age (as of Election Day)

58

Position Sought

Borough Council

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Wife - Jill (57); Sons - Robert (25), Brian (23), Jack (20)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No, but my wife is President of the Board of Education.

Education

American University (BS 1985); Rutgers Law School (JD 1988).

Occupation

Assistant Morris County Prosecutor - 26 years (Retired 2014); Teacher of Social Studies/Substitute Teacher - 2015 to the present.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I am currently serving my first term on the Borough Council.

Campaign website

None At This Time

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want to continue to be a voice for Borough residents; ensure transparency in government decision-making. I view myself as a problem-solver and want to use my skills to make Chatham Borough a even better place to live, work and raise a family.
The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Downtown & Gateway-Area Redevelopment. I will scrutinize the proposed projects to ensure the following:
*Grow commercial tax ratables and revenue base while shifting property tax burden away from residents.
* Create a pedestrian-friendly downtown as a destination so residents live, shop & dine in Chatham.
* Preserve Chatham’s small-town quality of life and historic charm.
* Maintain and expand our parks, open space & recreation areas for all to enjoy.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As a current Council Member I have a proven track record of getting things done to improve my community. Mr. Truilo (currently running in the Democratic Primary Election as a write-in candidate) does not. His only public service is being a member of the Historic Preservation Committee.

If re-elected in November I will be in a better position to make a more immediate impact on Borough operations for the betterment of its residents (no learning curve).

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Smart, Fiscally Conservative Budgeting -
* Maintain a stable tax rate while ensuring essential municipal services.
* Retain the Borough’s AAA bond rating by adhering to a long range strategic financial plan.
* Expand shared service agreements to save taxpayer dollars.

Traffic Mitigation - Work with neighboring municipalities to continue to lobby State and County officials to mitigate traffic on Main Street and Watchung Avenue.

Refurbishment of Garden Park - This park has not been improved in a very long time and needs updating. I will work with Borough staff and the Chatham Borough Recreation Advisory Committee to identify desired improvements and additional funding sources to help minimize the impact on the municipal budget.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Some of my first-term accomplishments include: sponsoring a resolution urging the NJ Legislature to vote against the legalization of marijuana; the hiring of a Class III Special Police Officer to patrol the schools in the Borough; saving the Vine Street pathway; the creation of the Tallmadge Ave turnaround; the creation of an additional handicap parking space at Borough Hall; and the establishment of an off-leash dog area at Shepard Kollock Park. As a strong supporter of the concept of community policing, I lobbied the Police Department to establish the Borough’s National Night Out program.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I believe an elected official should not just accept information at face value. It is important to analyze and test the information you are given so that your final decision is well reasoned and justifiable. My education and professional experience as an attorney/Assistant Prosecutor make me well suited to do just that.

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