Great Role Models, Great Ideas, Great Qualifications;

To the Editor:

We have an interesting situation in the Chatham Borough Council race this year. All four candidates bring something to the table in terms of qualifications. The two incumbents have sat through numerous meetings during their time in office and know the process for passing resolutions cold. Despite this, I am supporting the two challengers, Jocelyn Mathiasen and Carolyn Dempsey, who bring other qualities and other experiences that I am looking for on the Chatham Borough Council and who can easily learn how to pass a resolution.

We live in a town where things are pretty good. But I believe they can be better, and the way you go from good to better is to bring in people with new perspectives and new ideas. Carolyn and Jocelyn have a plan to revitalize Main Street that does not involve knocking old buildings down or waiting years for Post Office Plaza to be redeveloped. The Republicans have been in charge for years, and during that time our Main Street has gotten more and more run down and forgotten. Second, unlike the incumbents, Carolyn and Jocelyn both have kids in our schools and, let’s face it, Chatham is Chatham, with its high property values, because of our excellent schools and focus on children. Lastly, Carolyn and Jocelyn both want fast action on removing harmful pesticides from our playing fields, which the current council is dragging its feet on. This is a topic that is discussed every weekend at the games by us parents and should not be something that is put on hold because they don’t feel the urgency.

I would put Jocelyn’s resume up against anybody’s, including the two incumbents. She has just about every degree in government and public policy you can have. Her experience helping municipalities around the country will be invaluable in helping us find ways to cut costs to fund new priorities or cut taxes or both. As a parent of four children, keeping Chatham affordable, while maintaining the Chatham we love, is very important.

Carolyn has a degree from William and Mary, worked for her congressman in D.C., and in Chatham has decades of experience as a volunteer for the schools, including the Chatham Middle School PTO, and her church. This is typical of the kind of experience women bring to the table, and it is not less valuable than the volunteer experience men on the Council have touted. If anything, I feel it is more valuable. Carolyn is also a borough volunteer, on the Historic Preservation Commission, and I want more people with that passion on the Council as we plan redevelopments. Finally, Carolyn and Jocelyn will serve as great role models to a community I want my children to be proud of.

Bethany Gianusso

Chatham Borough