Four Candidates Vie For 2 Seats On Millburn Town Committee

MILLBURN, NJ — The presidential race may be commanding most of the attention, but voters can choose representatives in local races on Nov. 3, including three Millburn school board members and two Millburn Town Committee members (profiles below).

In Millburn's form of government, candidates run for the five-member Township Committee. After members are elected by the public, the committee members choose a new mayor and deputy mayor each year from among themselves.

The four candidates running for two open seats on Nov. 3 are:

• Democrats Sanjeev Vinayak and Maggee Miggins. When they announced their candidacies in April, they posted bios on Patch HERE. Vinayak has since submitted an updated bio. The bios are below.
• Republican candidates are Nic Volpicelli and Sujoy Menon, and you can read about them on Patch HERE. They are posted below.

Some of the candidates have posted essays on Patch recently, including Magee Miggins, who posted about the coronavirus crisis here. (You can read or post your own neighbor post here.)

Several people have posted neighbor posts on Millburn Patch about the race, including:

• A series of posts and discussions on whether someone should vote the party line. Scroll down to see how former Mayor Diane Thall-Eglow posted about crossing party lines.
• A post and comments about a past controversy involving a candidate here.

The South Mountain Civic Association and the West Hobart Neighborhood Association held a Committee candidates' form this past Sunday at 4 p.m., but said they were unable to record it due to technical difficulties, they said on their webpage.

Here are the profiles, in their own words:

Maggee Miggins and Sanjeev Vinayak (Democrats)

Miggins is a 22-year Millburn resident and runs a real estate team in town. She lives with her husband, Michael, and has two children. Miggins is an active member of the community and is a founding member of the Cultural Engagement Diversity and Arts Committee, former President of the Township Beautification League, a sustaining member of the Junior League of the Oranges/Short Hills and is a member of the Memorial Day Parade Committee.

"I love our community," said Miggins. "Being a long-time resident and business owner in town has given me the opportunity to get to know our residents and the needs of the community. I look forward to bringing my experience to the Township Committee."

Vinayak

Sanjeev, a proud Millburn resident, who along with his wife Shirin, two children, who are fortunate to be part of the Millburn Township Public Schools, and his adorable Labradoodle, Cooper, is excited about the opportunity to be engaged at the highest level of our township.

Both Sanjeev and Shirin have always believed in giving back to this beautiful town they call home and have volunteered with the school's community outreach and cultural diversity initiatives over the years. Sanjeev has also volunteered his time and helped coach several children's rec sports teams. He has been both an active participant and an active voice representing the perspectives of numerous residents on several township actions including discussions pertaining to a Marijuana dispensary in town, the ordinance of Restaurants as Principal Permitted Use, the need for a Gate at Canoe Brook Rd. closure, and better lighting in township zones towards pedestrian safety, amongst others. Through all such discussions, he has consistently determined his position on the issues based on facts, analysis and critical thinking.

Professionally, having spent a majority of his career consulting for operational and financial success within the CPG industry, he has co-founded and currently partners in a private equity fund garnered within the same industry. With this expertise in managing businesses for financial success, an Undergraduate degree from Southern New Hampshire University and a Masters from Pace University, he can provide operational experience and critical financial thinking to the current challenges. His experience brings with it not only a strategic thinker focused on solutioning but a professional with expertise in execution which is a critical need.

Sanjeev plans to leverage his business experience to better manage the township’s fiscal responsibilities in these troubling times. Safety and Security being a key priority for him, securing potential partnerships and grass root efforts such as alternate transportation modes, better speed controls and lighting in critical areas are a part of his plan. Finally, Vinayak recognizes transparency and accountability to be critical needs of our town’s residents and those will be the inherent values he plans to bring to our Township Committee. His belief is that the township has some of the country’s most competent decision makers as residents and it deserves leadership that recognizes and leverage that in strategic decision making and guidance. He will make himself available to listen, communicate and help maintain the strength and vitality of our community through consensus building and buy in.

Sujoy Menon and Nic Volpicelli (Republicans)

Sujoy Menon: MD, Cornell MBA, Chief Interventional Radiologist at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center: “My wife Aditi and I have been part of the Millburn/Short Hills community for about 5 years. Both of us are products of first-generation immigrant families from India. My wife, also a medical doctor, caters to our first responders right here in Millburn’s downtown. Our two children attend township schools – one in the middle school; one at Deerfield.

My initial ambition to pursue medicine took a circuitous route as I participated in cutting edge and lifesaving drug development projects utilizing my training in Computer Science and Molecular Biology. The MBA led me to a global role, managing international clinical trial operations for a highly successful HIV drug. I will bring those same project management skills - setting a clear objective with timelines, defined resources, accountability, and risk assessment — to the Township Committee. My vision for our town is simply stated — to remain kid and family friendly, along with a vibrant downtown, while resisting the lure of accelerated development. Sustaining our school system is crucially important as is maintaining a sense of personal safety. For me, being a member of the Township Committee is an opportunity to give back to an incredible community that I am passionate about by implementing sustainability and public safety policies that will ensure its vibrancy for years to come.”

Nicolas Volpicelli: BA, University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering, MBA, US Navy, Fellow for Lead NJ: “My wife Christa and I have been residents and volunteer participants in the Millburn/Short Hills community for 13 years. We are active parishioners at St. Rose of Lima and will have children in Glenwood, Washington and Millburn middle Schools for the 2020/21 academic year. During my 16-year career as a strategy consultant advising businesses around the world, I employed a collaborative, fact based approach to deliver sustainable outcomes. My affiliation with Lead New Jersey exposed me to issues facing the State across a comprehensive set of topics such as Health and Human Services, the Economy, the Arts, and Education, and gave me valuable public leadership experience that is relevant to serving on the Township Committee. I decided to run for Township Committee to provide a new perspective, after learning of the multiple high-density developments around town which the current Township Committee is allowing. By putting the needs of Millburn and Short Hills first, I seek to limit over-development and create a coherent long-term vision to enhance this vibrant community which attracts and retains so many residents.”

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