O'Brien Hopes to Bring Transparency to Township Committee

The following is the first in a three-part series of profiles of candidates running in the June 5 primary for Montville Township Committee. Candidates Don Kostka and Annabel Pierce will be profiled in the following days.

Democrat Mike O'Brien has been a familiar face in the Montville community for years, particularly at

O'Brien, a Towaco resident, has lived in the township since the 1970's and was one of the original teachers of the high school in 1968, teaching history for more than 40 years before retiring. But now he is hoping to serve the community in a new way as he is campaigning for

O'Brien will face the Republican winner of the June 5 primary-either incumbent Don Kostka or newcomer Annabel Pierce-in the November general election. While he has already ran two times in the past for a seat on the township committee, O'Brien said he is running this year to give voters a choice and because he feels it is not good for one political party to be the only one represented on a governmental body.

"All one political party is a danger because there's a necessity to protect the institution," he said.

To read more Montville Patch coverage of the Montville Township Committee 2012 election, click here.

O'Brien admits that he is "not a politician by nature" but said that is why he is unwilling to compromise his beliefs throughout the election process and it is what prevents him from engaging in speaking ill of his competition.

"It's an expectation in politics to say negative things about the other party, the other candidates and I do not want to be part of that hypocrisy," he said. "Whatever I am, I will still be that."

He feels that there is not enough openness and transparency within the current governing body and he often feels that information is delayed in getting to the public once it is in the hands of the township committee members.

Specifically, O'Brien questioned whether the township committee had prior knowledge for several years , which the committee is now what to do with. In his opinion, O'Brien feels the money should be returned to the ratepayers.

O'Brien said that without adequate knowledge, he could not comment on what area of the township's budget could be cut in his opinion, but that he, along with the other township committee members, would have to make "hard choices" if he is elected. But one thing he would not want the committee to consider is raising the amounts of or creating new fees. He also said his primary concern would be maintaining a for Montville residents.

"There's a difference between that which is necessary and absolute life, safety and welfare and that which is a luxury," he said.

O'Brien said he is not planning to spend a lot of money on his campaign and has not taken contributions from people in the township.

"I'm not connected to anybody with an agenda," he said. "I want to do the best job that I can for as many people as I can, and that absolutely is about being open and honest."

O'Brien is a chairperson of the Historic Preservation Review Comission, a member of the Montville Township High School Hall of Fame Committee and member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He and his wife, Linda, have five children: Abigail, also a mother of five children; Daniel, an attorney; Edmund, currently working on his Ph.D.; and twins and Montville Township High School students Conor and Caroline.

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