Hillsborough Township Committee Candidate: Olivia Holmes

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Democrat Olivia Holmes is one of four candidates running for election in the contested Hillsborough Committee election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

There are four candidates vying for two three-year seats on the borough committee with candidates including: Republicans Shawn Lipani and Ron Skono and Democrats Jeffrey A. Wright and Olivia Holmes.

Olivia Holmes

Description:

Moving to Hillsborough 32 years ago, I was attracted to the natural beauty, the farmlands, the rolling hills, the rivers, and the Delaware & Raritan Canal. Being centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, Hillsborough was the perfect place to enjoy country living while still being near the arts and culture of the city. My husband and I bought a house at the foot of the Sourland Mountains and raised our family here. Both my sons are graduates of Hillsborough High School. For the last 25 years I’ve run a successful photography business in town, Olivia Holmes Photography. Hillsborough is my home.

Over the years, I’ve seen many changes, many of them, not for the better. Over-development and traffic are changing the character of our town. Property taxes keep rising. I am running for the Township Committee to do my best to change these things.

What experience do you have that would help you serve?

I ran a successful photography business here in Hillsborough for 25 years. I have been involved in community activism: when I first moved here, I joined the ‘Friends of Hillsborough’ a community group that stopped 11,000 houses from being developed off Mill Lane. It is now preserved open space. I formed a group called “Preserve the Preserve” to stop development in the Sourland Mountain Preserve.

I am a Democrat, but I believe that the problems we face in our town are non-partisan – traffic, unrepaired roads, over-development, high taxes. The Republicans have exclusively controlled our local government for at least the last 15 years. As we have seen in our federal government, when one party is in power, and there are no checks and balances. We need an alternative voice, someone who is not afraid to speak their mind. I think I’m that person.

What issues would you like to see addressed?

Greater transparency is needed with regard to township meetings, ordinance language, making maps and designs available to the public, as well as accepting input from the public. I will work very hard to make sure our residents, who know the most about their own neighborhoods, will have their voices heard!

Sustainable growth has not yet been achieved and also needs to be addressed. Over-development is a common refrain going door to door. Much of the concern is because residents don’t feel they have input at the initial stages, zoning, planning, or build cycles of the project. Some years ago, there was a comprehensive development plan to build a town center and to better manage growth and traffic, but it was not executed fully. We must review our master plan as a whole, look at all the development planned over the next 10 to 15 years and review feasibility, infrastructure, population and tax considerations, and environmental issues. A vibrant downtown will not only improve the economy for existing businesses, it will bring in new business, improve our quality of life, and increase our property values. More successful businesses contributing tax income will also make Hillsborough more affordable.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, please email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

(Image provided: Olivia Holmes)

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