Get To Know Chatham Borough Council Candidate Frank Truilo

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

Frank M. Truilo

Age (as of Election Day)

63

Position Sought

Borough Council

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Linda, wife of 33 years, and daughter Michaela attending Rutgers

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor of Architecture 1981 From New Jersey Institute of Technology

Occupation

Architect in private practice since 2003

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Current Vice-Chair of Chatham Borough Historic Preservation Commission. Current Board of Trustees member for the Newark and Suburban chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Former Board of Trustees member for the New Providence Community Pool. Former member of the New Providence Planning Board. Former member of the the Robbinsville Planning Board

Campaign website

To be determined

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want to give back to my community and help steer Chatham Borough into the future, ready to embrace change while preserving the character that has long made it a wonderful town in which to live.
The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The coronavirus has impacted many of our small businesses, particularly the retail shops and restaurants located on Main Street. I believe that an economically vibrant downtown will not only strengthen our tax base, but also offer many amenities and conveniences to our residents. I hope to reach out to the local merchants and conduct a focus group with them as well as their landlords to see what we can do to better support them in achieving economic vitality. As an architect I have designed for two businesses on Main Street and have an understanding of what it is like to be a small-business owner. I myself am one.

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

I do expect differing viewpoints and will respect them. My goal will be focused on doing the right thing for the collective whole of Chatham Borough.

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

Having been on the Historic Preservation Commission for almost five years now, I would like to preserve the small-town charm and the village-like feel we all have come to enjoy. Although I would endorse growth and development, it must be tempered to respect the historic nature and scale of Chatham Borough.

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

I began my civic involvement as a member of the New Providence Planning Board while I was still in college studying to become an architect. Ever since I have contributed to every municipality where I have resided. Currently as a member of the Borough's Historic Preservation Commission, I view myself and fellow commission members as stewards whose role is to encourage new development while preserving the many facets that make up Chatham's historic charm. In my private practice I appear before various planning and zoning boards throughout the state and have acquired an expertise in Municipal Land Use Law as well as an understanding of the concerns of small-business owners and residents alike.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Listen and learn. Respect the views of others for they may be right.

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

As an architect I can dream big but I also have to be pragmatic and be able to figure out all of the details. I can bring this level of thinking and vision in guiding Chatham Borough forward.

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