Get To Know Mendham Township Committee Candidate Amalia Duarte

Editor's Note: Patch sent out questionnaires to every candidate who filed a petition of candidacy by the deadline. We sent them to the email addresses registered as the official campaign emails at the County Clerk's Office. We will run the responses in the order they were received with no edits. Those candidates who did not receive a questionnaire should double check their spam folders, or contact russ.crespolini@patch.com for a form.

Name: Amalia Duarte

Age (as of Election Day): 58

Position Sought: Re-Election to Mendham Township Committee

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Family: Two children: Matthew, 18, first-year at Hobart William Smith Colleges; Elena, 23, working at NEON, an environmental nonprofit.

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

Education: New York University, BA in political science and journalism

Occupation: Public Affairs Director - 10 years with ECLC of New Jersey, a nonprofit that provides "Education, Careers & Lifelong Community" to children and adults with special needs.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Mendham Township Committee - elected Nov. 2017

Campaign website: www.duarte4mendham.com

Why are you seeking elective office?: It has been a pleasure to serve the residents of Mendham Township, since January 2018 on the Township Committee, and I would be honored to serve a second term.

This year, I have been helping our town respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. This is a terrible, unprecedented crisis. My thoughts and prayers are with residents who have suffered with the coronavirus and to their families.

On a positive note, it has been wonderful to see the community pulling together during this crisis. During the lockdown, it was heart-warming to hear about residents sewing face masks, buying groceries for neighbors, organizing meal drives for health care workers and trying to lift spirits in so many other ways.

As part of the township's response, in March, I spearheaded an outreach program to call elderly residents, in particular those living alone, to check in and ensure they are doing okay. I organized a team of volunteers to make phone calls and in some cases even grocery shop for them. The nice part has been staying in touch with a few seniors whom I met through this program.

In May, I helped organize "Mendham Gives Back," a town-wide campaign to collect clothing, old sporting goods and food. I volunteered at various town events, such as the drive-in movie night.

In addition, as Chair of the Mendhams Stigma-Free Task Force, I worked on providing mental health resources to the community and lifting spirits. We also launched a fundraising drive for the Interfaith Food Pantry, which raised nearly $2,000. Right now, we are fund-raising as a Walk Team for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s annual walkathon.

During my term, I have focused on issues that I campaigned on, including supporting a municipal budget that delivers needed services, while keeping taxes down; improving communications with residents and creating greater transparency in our local government; investing in recreation and the trail system; reviving Brookside Beach and re-opening Ralston Playground; and working to increase property values and promoting Mendham to new families.

I have been committed to improving communications with residents, one of my main campaign issues. Before COVID, I held regular open Office Hours at Town Hall. In 2018, I launched and chaired an Ad Hoc Communications Committee. The result was a community-wide survey on communications; a redesigned township Website; and a new e-mail newsletter produced monthly.

To encourage youth engagement, I wrote an ordinance to add student representatives to volunteer committees, a program in its second year.

When it comes to lowering costs for residents, I initiated a successful move by the township to join an energy co-operative with other municipalities that reduces monthly electric bills for homeowners.

I sponsored a resolution, that was unanimously adopted by the New Jersey League of Municipalities, asking Congress and the President to restore the full State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions.

I helped hire a highly regarded part-time Recreation Director, when other members of the Township Committee wanted to create a costly full-time position with benefits. Ralston Playground was finally funded and re-opened after my election. Our little gem, Brookside Beach, threatened with closure by past Township Committee members, has been revitalized and was thriving this summer with families and residents of all ages.

In 2018, I proposed that the Township Committee pass a resolution declaring Mendham Township a Stigma-Free town. I then established and have been Chair of the Mendhams Stigma-Free Task Force, in partnership with Mendham Borough. This wonderful group of volunteers has organized parent workshops on youth mental health issues, marijuana, vaping and autism awareness. In January, the Task Force provided community forums about teen suicide to promote healing and hope after the tragic death of two teens by suicide.

During May, the Task Force focused on Mental Health Awareness Month. We sponsored a Webinar on mental health issues sparked by COVID and offered daily resources and information throughout the month through Facebook. The Task Force also purchased and installed signs throughout the Mendhams with messages of hope and inspiration. "We're All in this Together" and "Don't Give Up" were two of the messages.

In February, I proposed a resolution, passed by the Township Committee, seeking to prevent the closure of Daytop, a residential youth substance use treatment center.

In June 2019, I proposed that the Township Committee pass a Proclamation for Pride Month. No one else on the Township Committee supported it. But this year, I got bipartisan support and we recognized Pride Month for the very first time!

I have successfully proposed Proclamations recognizing the 100th Anniversary of Women's Suffrage; Autism Awareness Month; Mental Health Awareness Month; the 50th Anniversary of the Morris County NAACP's Freedom Gala; and a Welcoming Proclamation in 2019.

Also on Township Committee, I have served as liaison to the Brookside Engine Company #1; Ralston Engine Company #1; the First Aid Squad; the Police Department; the Environmental Commission; Historic Preservation Committee; Mendham TV; the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee; the West Morris Regional School District; and the Wildlife Committee.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.: Mendham Township has excellent schools; acres of open safe; beautiful winding roads; and is one of the safest communities in the country. Yet, we are facing a crisis of declining property values. Since 2007, property values in the township have declined by 11 percent, according to data from the township.

With support from the Township Committee, I launched an Ad Hoc Marketing Communications Committee in April to create a plan to help promote Mendham and counter the trend of declining property values. The volunteer Committee is comprised of residents with marketing, communications and business professional backgrounds. This new sub-committee builds on the work of the first Communications Committee that I led in 2018.

We presented our ideas at the Oct. 13 Township Committee meeting, and the recommendations and ideas were very well-received by the Township Committee and residents who were there.

We came up with several suggested “themes” to market the town and create a greater sense of community for current residents. The goal is to promote Mendham Township in a coordinated, strategic way through the best communications tools and methods available to prospective new families. We are hoping to move forward with a plan to market Mendham at a minimal cost through volunteers and taking advantage of available free resources.

The pandemic has highlighted many of the positive qualities of our community, and there is a lot of interest in buying in our town from people moving out of New York City, for example. We hope to capitalize on the trend and draw more new residents to Mendham Township, which helps boost property values.

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

The biggest differentiator is my two decades years living in the community, and my long track record of community service. My opponent moved to Mendham 10 months ago from Bergen County.

Prior to running for the Township Committee, I volunteered in Mendham Township for many years, primarily in recreation. I was a longtime girls basketball and soccer coach and served on the West Morris Soccer Club Board. I was on the Recreation Commission for 12 years and served as the Chair. I was a key organizer of the annual Mendham Patriots' 5K Race & Kids' Fun Run. I was Co-Chair of the Rebuild Ralston Playground campaign, which raised more than $100,000 to re-open the playground.

I served as the Vice Chair of the Board of Adjustment and was a member of the township's Open Space Committee.

I have been a trustee with Schiff Nature Preserve for nine years. I serve as a trustee with Brookside Community Church. I am a Boy Scout Merit Badge counselor with the Patriots' Path Council. And, I am a member and Board Member of the Rotary Club of the Mendhams.

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

N/A

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform: In addition to the above, I have fought for the values of inclusion and acceptance. I am a first-generation American, whose parents are from the Dominican Republic. I grew up in a bicultural, bilingual household led by parents seeking the American Dream. I spoke out swiftly and publicly against acts of hate in our community, from the vandalism of the menorah at Borough Park last December to a hate letter left in a resident's mailbox in 2019. After the tragic murder of George Floyd, I helped organize a Community Vigil to offer residents a chance to gather in solidarity and gain strength from each other.

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

My accomplishments in the position are evidence that I can continue to effectively serve the community on the Township Committee.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Share the credit but take the blame.

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

One of the best things about serving on the Township Committee is the chance to help residents. I get calls and e-mails about all sorts of issues -- bats, recreation, unemployment benefits, police issues, ash trees, the library, etc. Someone recently called me the Answer Lady because I always respond to residents in an expedient manner and do my best to provide answers. If someone comes to a meeting complaining about potholes. I go to their street to see for myself. I treat residents how I would like to be treated, if I had a problem or a question. It's important to be responsive, available and open-minded.

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