Kate Hay and Jocelyn Mathiasen are an Asset to our Community

While most people who follow politics are primarily focused on the high-stakes presidential race, the reality is that your vote has the greatest impact at the local level, where the margins can be in the tens of votes, not the tens of millions, and where your local leaders make decisions that have a direct impact on quality of life for you and your families.

As a two-term council member, Jocelyn Mathiasen has devoted countless hours to modernizing and streamlining Borough operations, as well as putting in place long term plans to secure the Borough’s financial stability while ensuring necessary upkeep of our critical infrastructure and assets. She was a leader on a bi-partisan effort to fight the state’s new affordable housing law, and while the law was eventually passed, she and other opponents were able to secure some critical changes. Elected officials in both parties have commended Jocelyn’s efforts and her desire to ensure that towns can comply with affordable housing requirements in a way that minimizes impacts on the community’s infrastructure, environment, and services.

Technically, this is Kate Hay’s first election, as she was appointed last year to fill Mayor Carolyn Dempsey’s unexpired term. It is rare for a new Council member to be as productive and effective as Kate has been, serving as a liaison to the Environmental Commission and Board of Health in the critical year for renewing the Borough’s coveted Silver Star in Environmental Stewardship and first year seeking a Gold Star for Health. She has been a strong and effective advocate for better access for the disabled and promoting pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Jocelyn and Kate are a study in contrasts who make a great team in part because of their differences. Jocelyn is the senior member of the Council and often turned to as a mentor and to provide institutional memory regarding Borough efforts and initiatives. Originally from Washington, DC and with stints in Massachusetts, Poland, Virginia, Washington State and Connecticut, she initially ran for Council just a few years after moving to Chatham. She has a Master of Public Policy from Harvard and a 25 year career in local government management and uses her professional expertise to inform her work on the Council.

Kate is the youngest and newest Council member – as well as the only millennial. Kate’s mom emigrated from Cuba and her father is Irish-American. She was raised in Chatham, went through the Chatham school system, and returned here after getting a degree in theater with a minor in history and political science from George Washington University in only 3 years. As a local swim coach in Madison she has taught many town kids how to swim and compete, and as the owner of a skin care company she serves as a member of the town’s small business and entrepreneurial community.

Both Kate and Jocelyn are focused on protecting the livability and small town feel of Chatham Borough while ensuring that it is a welcoming and supportive community for residents of all backgrounds, ages, orientations, beliefs, and abilities.

Please join me in showing your support for Kate and Jocelyn this November.

Patricia Soteropoulos

Chair, Chatham Borough Democratic Committee