Letter to the Editor: Vote for Our Future, Not Our Past

The following is a letter to the editor by Anna Lee Williams, former candidate for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District:

This November, voters will head to the polls for the midterm elections. While national races often dominate the headlines, local elections are just as important. The people we elect to the Morris Township Committee will help shape our public spaces, local services, and the future of our community. You may not know who’s running, so I want to share who I’m supporting and why.

First, what do I want for our community?

I want thriving public schools, safe neighborhoods, and parks and open spaces that remain protected for future generations. I want Morris Township to be a place where everyone feels welcome and safe, including our immigrant neighbors who shouldn’t have to fear being separated from their families by ICE.

I want a community where younger generations can build a life, where families feel supported, and where the people making decisions understand what it’s like to live here. As someone under 30, I care about whether Morris Township will remain a place where people like me can put down roots. I want elected officials who have skin in the game: people who are invested in our future.

And honestly? I want local politics to be boring.

I mean that sincerely. At a time when national politics feels increasingly chaotic, divisive, and consumed by political theater, I want our local government to offer the opposite. I don’t want endless finger-pointing, manufactured outrage, or campaigns built around grievances. I want leaders who listen, communicate clearly, and get things done. I don’t want to “take the township back.” I want us to move forward.

So how do we get there?

We elect people who are willing to do the work.

If we want better communication, we need elected officials who make local government easier to navigate and take residents’ concerns seriously. If we want to protect our parks and open spaces, we need people who understand their value and are committed to preserving them. If we want a community where everyone feels they belong, we need leaders who see their neighbors as people to represent, not political talking points.

That means looking beyond campaign slogans and paying attention to how candidates engage with the community, the priorities they put forward, and whether they’re focused on solutions. Identifying what’s broken is easy. Explaining how you intend to fix it, and putting in the work to do so, is much harder.

That brings me to who I’m supporting: Jeremy Godwin, Stephanie Lyon, and Samantha Rothman.

These three candidates have earned my support not just through how they’re campaigning, but through the specific priorities they’ve put forward.

Jeremy Godwin wants to make local government more transparent and easier to navigate. He has proposed simplifying the township website so residents can find information quickly and creating an online tracker for roadwork and township projects, including timelines and spending.

Stephanie Lyon wants to make Morris Township more accessible and inclusive. Her proposals include multilingual township information, more accessible public meetings, a youth advisory board, safer walking and biking infrastructure, and know-your-rights education for people affected by immigration enforcement.

Samantha Rothman is focused on environmental protection and responsible development. As co-founder of Grow It Green Morristown, she has worked to connect residents with community gardens, healthy food, and environmental education. She has also advocated for investment in trees and sidewalks and greater accountability around the deteriorating Abbey property.

All three are parents, with children ranging from toddlers to college students, giving them a personal stake in Morris Township’s future across generations. They bring different experiences and priorities, but share a commitment to showing up, listening to residents, and taking local government seriously.

They’re also making their case by knocking on doors, calling voters, hosting community coffee sessions, and making a genuine effort to meet residents where they are. Most importantly, they’re talking about what they want to accomplish rather than simply campaigning about what everyone else is doing wrong.

For me, this is what local leadership should look like: people who have a stake in our community, know what they want to accomplish, and are willing to put in the work to make it happen. Jeremy Godwin, Stephanie Lyon, and Samantha Rothman have demonstrated those qualities throughout this campaign. This November, I’m voting for them because they’ve proven they have the commitment, priorities, and vision to help Morris Township move forward.