Matawan Councilwoman Deana Gunn: Why I Seek Re-Election

MATAWAN, NJ — In Matawan borough, there are two seats open and four candidates who seek to fill them this November:

Current council members Deana Gunn and Stephanie Buckel, both Democrats, seek to retain their seats. They will be challenged by Republicans Anissa Esposito and Joe Saggese.

Patch asked all the candidates to fill out this same questionnaire and here are Gunn's answers: (Here are Esposito's and Saggese's answers: https://patch.com/new-jersey/m...) Buckel did not respond.

Deana Gunn

Age (as of Election Day): 46

Position Sought: Councilperson

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: Husband Todd 48, son Tyler 15, daughter Lyla 12

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

Education: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Occupation: I've been on the Matawan town council since 2018. Previously I was a health coach and small-business owner from 2014-2017. Prior to that I worked in finance for a large financial institution from 1997-2004.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office? Currently elected at a Councilwoman in the Borough of Matawan

Campaign website: Restorematawan.com

Why are you seeking elective office? There are many accomplishments I'm proud of from my first term. We've repaired roads, fixed up parks and restored historic landmarks. We've removed eyesores like the two abandoned gas stations on Main Street. We’ve laid the foundation for infrastructure repairs and upgrades that will allow us to take the next step in developing our downtown and train station. We are working with the businesses and people that are interested in investing in Matawan. We are on our way but we still have more work to do.

Matawan taxpayers deserve a downtown they are proud of and a community with services and amenities for them to enjoy. I hope the residents give me the opportunity to continue with the team that has a vision of a restored Matawan and will continue to get things done.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it:

Due to the COVID crisis, the single most pressing issue facing our community right now is supporting our local economy. We've been in touch with our businesses so they are aware of any state and federal support. We are listening to what they need. Since dining outside is something that will help restaurant owners get back on their feet, we’ve waived the fees for outdoor dining permits and streamlined the process to make it easier.

Along those lines we need to continue working to enhance our downtown and transit area to bring in new businesses and customers. That isn't possible without the work that's been done over the last few years, newly paved roads, new sidewalks, the demolition of the two abandoned gas stations one in the downtown on Main Street and the other by the train station. The work we are doing will help existing businesses stay open and will bring in new businesses and commercial ratables. This will help to keep property taxes stable for homeowners for years to come.

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

I’m proud of the progress we have made to restore Matawan and the people I talk to are very happy with the improvements we have made as well. Also, our team has a vision and a real plan for Matawan going forward. During times like these I think it's important to have Council members with a record of getting things done. The only thing I have seen from our opponents is a lot of negativity and attacks on the work we’ve been doing the last few years.

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

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

As a resident of this town for 20 years, I've always believed Matawan had a ton of potential and we have made more progress in the last five years than the 15 before that. Our goal has always been to give taxpayers a return on their tax dollars through parks to enjoy with their families, a downtown they are proud of and a community with services and amenities.

We’ve done this by fixing up what was neglected, restoring our historic sites, providing our departments with the necessary equipment they need to do their jobs and service the borough. We’ve fixed or improved much of our infrastructure. These steps were necessary to make Matawan a place where people want to invest. Now we've laid the foundation to take the town to the next level with our downtown and train station area. It’s time to continue pushing forward.

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

In the 10 years before we were elected, the previous administration let the town fall apart. Our team fixed it up. We refurbished neglected parks, restored historic sites, put in new sidewalks, fixed old infrastructure. Most recently we’ve worked with the county to pave two of our main roads in our downtown. Because of this we are now ready to tackle the next phase, which will be further redevelopment of the downtown and the train station.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice and the thing I always go back to is 'focus on the people that are counting on you, not the ones trying to bring you down.'

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

I've been a resident for twenty years and I love my community. I think the key question that voters need to ask is themselves, is Matawan in a better place than it was four years ago?

The primary election has been pushed back to July 7. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.