Meet The Candidate: Doug Schneider For Edison Board Of Education

EDISON, NJ — Edison resident Doug Schneider is running for a seat on the Edison Board of Education. Ina Q&A with Patch he talks about fiscal responsibility, individual student achievement, and accessibility being the focus of his work, once elected to the Board.

Read below to learn more about Schneider.

Name: Doug Schneider

Position Sought: Member, Edison Board of Education

Age (as of Election Day): 42

Party Affiliation: Non-partisan

Family: Three sons, ages 12 (twins) and 11.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: No

Education: Edison High School, 1997; BS Marketing, Penn State University 2001

Occupation: Owner, DHS Hospitality, 22 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None

Campaign website: buildbrightfutures.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

I have dedicated a large part of my life to building my businesses, but it has become increasingly frustrating to watch the overall functioning of the Board of Education. Being a member of the BOE is a thankless job that requires passion - a passion that a parent with children in the district should have. A laser focus on fiscal responsibility, individual student achievement, and full accessibility are not just cliched campaign platform talking points - the Building Brighter Futures team is dedicated to implementing solutions. My skill set lends itself to helping the community, taxpayers, teachers, and students.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Simply put, there is a trust issue, both internally and with the public. The Board of Education, Mayor's Office, Town Council, the public, the teachers, and administration must work together and quickly establish a trust to get things done. People do not like having crowded schools while seeing overdeveloped neighborhoods and warehouses. Taxpayers do not feel the tax bills match the services. As a Board member, I will work with the new Mayor to help re-establish a high level of synergy between all public offices to benefit our residents.

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

My biggest strength is leadership. I have a long track record of establishing relationships and finding solutions. I have the ability to get the right people in the room - without egos and without politics getting in the way.

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

The systematic problems in the district cannot be an indictment of just the current board. The biggest elephant in the room is overcrowding. Our district has failed to build a new school with the last one built in the 1970s. While the current board has failed the address the crowding, it's not the first time. Someone needs to lead, with the cooperation of the other Township leaders, an effort to put a real long-term plan into place. Some of my opponents have had a chance to make a difference and they have failed. It's time for fresh leadership.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Student achievement and fiscal responsibility are the two main areas of focus besides overcrowding. Our students - from the highest achieving to the most reluctant - need to maximize their ability to learn. We are blessed in Edison to have tremendous teachers and administrators however the Board of Education needs to give them the policy framework to support the plan.

Our campaign's focus on fiscal responsibility relies on providing a strict rubric for all of our vendors. If our students and teachers are evaluated and tested on a regular basis, why shouldn't our vendors be held accountable? We need to demand straight A's from our vendors.

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

My commitment to community and leadership started as early as grade school when I attended the public schools in Edison. I was the Drum Major in the Edison High School Marching band and an Eagle Scout from Troop 12 in Edison.

Since beginning my career in the hospitality sector from Penn State, I have spearheaded many community efforts including fundraising for cancer research, feeding tens of thousands of people during the COVID crisis, and continually facilitating weekly COVID testing and vaccine clinics.

As an elected Chairman of the Board of Directors for New Brunswick City Center, I successfully led an effort to reinvent the Downtown area throughout the pandemic and keep hundreds of people employed. The City Center board includes the biggest stakeholders in the County and I am very accustomed to finding compromises and solutions.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

If you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life.

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

In voting for me, Edison Township has a unique opportunity to elect someone who can immediately impact our students and teachers. We can simultaneously meet short-term goals and develop long-term solutions to ensure the education in Edison Township is always shining bright.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.