Mendham Borough is up for a new mayoral election this year, and former councilman Neil Henry is looking to unseat fellow Republican James Kelly. (Neil Henry)
MENDHAM, NJ — Mendham Borough is up for a new mayoral election this year, and former councilman Neil Henry is looking to unseat fellow Republican James Kelly.
In the upcoming primary election, Henry is facing off against incumbent Mayor Kelly for the Republican nomination.
As it stands now, the winner of the primary will run unopposed in November's General Election, as no Democrats have filed a petition.
Patch is putting together a series of candidate Q&As so readers can learn more about who is on their ballot.
See Henry's responses below:
Full name: Neil J. Henry
Age: 70
Town of residence: Mendham Borough
Position sought: Office of the Mayor, Mendham Borough
Party affiliation: Republican
Family: Wife: Leslie; Three Grown Children: Bill, Ted, and Alexandra
Education: High School Diploma, Mendham High School; B.A. Degree, Mass Communications/Political Science, Lycoming College, Williamsport, Pa.
Occupation: Town Administrator-Town of Boonton
Previous or current elected/appointed office (if applicable): Councilman-Borough of Mendham 2001-2006; Mayor-Borough of Mendham 2007-2018; Township Administrator-Township of Long Hill 2012-2017; Town Administrator-Town of Boonton 2017-Present.
Why are you running for this position? I am challenging Mayor Jim Kelly in this year's republican primary because I don't believe he has articulated a clear vision on how he plans to tackle the significant issues that Mendham Borough will be facing over the next several years. I have provided my go-forward vision on my blog called Running Mendham "Write" which can be seen on our website at runningmendhamright.com.
What do you believe to be the most pressing issue in the community, and what do you intend to do about it if elected? There are many issues facing the community, but the most pressing issue is the excessive development along with the zoning ordinances that are being approved to allow for this development. My plan to deal with this issue is simple:
a.) As an alternative to Mayor Kelly's decision to remove himself directly from his seat on the Joint Land Use Board (JLUB), I would serve as an active member of the JLUB and provide input into all applications for development. This will allow me to work alongside other board members to work directly with the applicant while representing Borough residents.
b.) I would direct Borough professionals to identify any remaining land within the Borough that has the potential of being developed while assessing the viability of acquiring these properties that would permit the Borough to impose deed restrictions on them.
c.) Re-engage a sub-committee consisting of council members that was first formed in 2025 to proactively plan for any potential redevelopment that may occur if all other suitable land is no longer developable which could potential allow for developers to build up rather than building out.
What qualifications and qualities do you possess that make you best suited for the position?
As a seasoned executive and consensus builder with over 25 years of management experience in the public sector, I have built an extensive background in negotiating all types of agreements as well as identifying and maximizing the skillsets each member of my team brings to the table. I have many devoted memories of growing up in the Mendham Area. Preserving these memories for future generations to enjoy gives me the incentive to ensure Mendham is "Run Right."
Municipal tax increases have been a growing concern throughout NJ. How do you intend to address it in your community?
Tax increases are certainly a huge concern, especially with the rate of inflation being what it is. In order to address it correctly, I will work diligently to reduce the amount of funding being used from the Borough's surplus to offset tax increases. This can be done through assessing the overall efficiency of all departments within the municipal organization, identifying additional revenue generators and rebuild solid relationships with our municipal neighbors to open up discussions on additional shared service agreements which will result in the savings of tax dollars.
In a few words, what is your favorite thing about your community?
One of my favorite things about my community is meeting and engaging with the younger families who are moving into town. It is important for us who have lived in town for a long period of time to embrace the new and younger families and encourage them to get involved with the various volunteer roles within the community. As Mayor, I will connect with these newer residents so that I can spell out the advantages of being involved with the community via mayoral appointments to the various volunteer boards within the borough's municipal organization.