Politics & Government
Montclair Mayor ‘Prepares To Pass Baton’: Election 2024
"I am so honored to have led Montclair as your mayor," Sean Spiller said.
MONTCLAIR, NJ — “The baton of stewardship” is about to change hands in Montclair, the town’s mayor says.
On Thursday, Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller posted an announcement on social media that apparently confirms he will not be running for another term.
Spiller was sworn in as mayor in 2020. He previously served on the township council.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Spiller is also the president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest public school teachers’ union.
“As I prepare to pass the baton of stewardship to the next elected leader of our community, I am more confident than ever that Montclair will continue to embody the values we hold dear,” Spiller wrote.
Find out what's happening in Montclairfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“I am so honored to have led Montclair as your mayor and to serve for these past 12 years,” he added.
Montclair will have a municipal election on Tuesday, May 14. In total, seven seats will be up for grabs: mayor, two at-large council members, and a council member in each of the four wards. The filing deadline for candidates was Feb. 29.
Learn more about the candidate requirements, how to run, the election timeline, ward maps and other election information here.
Patch reached out to Spiller for comment on his future plans. We will update this article with any reply we receive.
The mayor's full message follows below:
"Dear Friends,
"Montclair is more than just a place, it’s a home, and one I have been proud to serve for 12 years. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been rewarding to serve the town that we all share. It’s a great place to live and my wife and I are thrilled to be raising our children here.
"As Mayor, I’ve sought to achieve what I think we all want - a vibrant, diverse, safe community that supports residents of all ages and means - with great schools and services, vibrant arts and culture, good jobs and easy commutes and affordable for all.
"We are a community bound together by an abiding affection for our township and an enduring commitment to our shared values.
"Montclair has earned our reputation as one of the leading progressive communities in the state and the nation, but we have also quietly paved roads, replaced sewer lines, removed lead pipes, and reduced our debt by millions of dollars.
"As public servants we are stewards of this great town.
"It has meant investing in areas often overlooked, tackling quality of life issues, and also leading during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. It requires leaning on relationships to handle emergencies that threaten our water supply and working to remove state-required red-tape for small businesses while also providing them local dollars during a health crisis.
"And through all that, we are entrusted to protect our values and to strengthen the foundations for our township.
"So, while Montclair has become one of the most desirable places to live, we have also taken unprecedented steps to protect our diversity and affordability. Despite previous unsuccessful efforts, we enacted a rent control ordinance for Montclair that protects renters and specifically limits increases for our seniors.
"We created an ordinance that allows for accessory dwelling units that further allows for seniors and others to afford to call Montclair home. Also, as we continue to meet and exceed our affordable housing requirements, we were permitted by the courts to offer affordable housing opportunities to Montclair residents first.
"Over the last four years we have charted a course that has set Montclair on a trajectory for a prosperous and sustainable future, while remaining firmly rooted in our progressive ideals and our diversity.
"While we have accomplished much, adding multiple new parking decks to alleviate parking challenges, bringing in new arts and cultural events that bring our community together and draw national attention, and launched initiatives to provide safe paths for bicyclists and pedestrians, there is still more to be done.
"But, by reducing our debt by more than seventy-five million dollars, we have created savings for taxpayers that allow us to make continuing investments in our township.
"Montclair is experiencing exciting growth and prosperity.
"New businesses are opening and calling Montclair home.
"From Bloomfield Avenue to the South End, from Walnut Street to Watchung Plaza to Valley Road, our commercial districts are flourishing.
"Our economy is thriving and we have made the investments and passed the protections needed to keep Montclair diverse and vibrant for years to come.
"{In the coming months, new development and creative repurposing of municipal property will breathe new life into underutilized buildings, providing Montclair the physical space needed to serve residents well into the future.
"Our township’s solid foundation and commitment to progressive values allows us to be a model, not only to communities throughout the state of New Jersey, but across the country.
"Montclair represents an ideal, an example of how to stand up to extremism, bigotry, inequalities, injustice, and to do so while responsibly governing in so many other ways.
"Together, we have navigated difficult times and our differences and set our township on a course for continued prosperity grounded in a sustained commitment to the ideals for which Montclair stands.
"I am grateful for so many who volunteered their time to serve on task forces to address pandemic challenges and for those who volunteer on countless committees and commissions. Also, I appreciate our talented and dedicated township employees who do so much every day for our township. Together, we have been part of a team to serve this community and I say thank you to all of you.
"As I prepare to pass the baton of stewardship to the next elected leader of our community, I am more confident than ever that Montclair will continue to embody the values we hold dear.
"Critical work remains ahead and I look forward to continuing to work alongside each and every one of you in service of our shared home.
"I am so honored to have led Montclair as your Mayor and to serve for these past 12 years. I could not be more proud of all we have accomplished together.
"With deepest gratitude and unwavering optimism,"
Mayor Sean M. Spiller
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
