As a long-time resident of Chatham Borough, I am writing to voice my enthusiastic support for Jocelyn Mathiasen and Kate Hay, and I’m looking forward to their continued leadership on the Chatham Borough Council.
In my 30+ years of living in Chatham, I’ve seen candidates come and go. Most are interested in uniting our community and helping us move forward. However, there are forces – and candidates – who want to go back to the way things used to be…or kick the can down the road. These are impossible fantasies in light of our changing world, which is why it’s so important to stay the course and re-elect Mathiasen and Hay.
If you are on the fence or feeling swayed by recent rhetoric, here are three ways our current Chatham Borough Council – which includes Joselyn Mathiasen and Kate Hay – are working to make our town a better place to live:
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#1 Embracing Transparency: Championing the use of modern communication channels to share and amplify important news – including social media, local press, online posts, and phone call/text alerts – and publicly sharing planning/zoning board applications and meeting information.
#2 Balancing Responsible Fiscal Stewardship and Safety: Keeping tax increases and operating costs down, while making important changes, such as replacing the “green bag” garbage system, and investing in service, infrastructure and public safety priorities that impact our roads, water/sewer systems, and police/fire/emergency services.
Find out what's happening in Chathamfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
#3 Focusing on the Future: Actively advocating for short- and long-term planning that supports the needs of our current – and increasingly diverse, multi-generational – community, by deftly navigating local and statewide housing and development requirements, encouraging responsible growth, and supporting environmentally sustainable practices.
Most local elections are won (or lost) by a few votes, which means we all have a personal responsibility to actively participate in this year’s election, scheduled for November 5, 2024. As you prepare to cast your ballot – either by mail or in-person via early/election day voting – I implore you to make your voice heard by re-electing Mathiasen and Hay to the Chatham Borough Council. They are dedicated, experienced public servants, who are committed to serving the needs of everyone in our community.
Sincerely,
Jean Gogarty
Chatham, NJ 07928
