Morristown Town Council Election 2021: Nathan Umbriac

MORRISTOWN, NJ — It won't be long until Morristown elects members to its Town Council. Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the Nov. 2 General Election.

Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will get published between now and Election Day.

Here is the response from Town Council candidate Nathan Umbriac.

Name: Nathan Umbriac
Age (as of Election Day): 40
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Family: Wife Jessica and children Sierra (10), Joaquín (8), Francesco (5) and Stefania (2). Our three older children are students in the Morris School District.
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No
Education: I have a bachelor’s degree in biology, Spanish minor, and an MBA with concentrations in management and international business.
Occupation: Transformation Program Manager at Sanofi
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: I currently serve on Morristown’s Environmental Commission and the Morristown Housing Authority. In addition, I am treasurer of the Morristown Democratic Committee.
Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/Morri...

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a father of four, I am dedicated to improving the quality of life of our residents, continuing to make Morristown a warm and inviting town that is safe, clean and affordable.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Increasing public engagement through technology to reach more people. We must empower members of the public to raise concerns and provide feedback via surveys, town halls, etc. To truly affect change and influence their representatives, members of the public should communicate – and have the tools to communicate in advance, not just on discussion boards and social media.

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

I have a young family and am a volunteer in the community. I have volunteered with the Interfaith Food Pantry Network for over 12 years and currently serve on their board. I chair their Young Professional’s Council to attract a younger demographic to serve. Additionally, I have captained a Corporate team in support of Covenant House NJ, raising funds and awareness of homeless and trafficked youth. I am very involved in my children’s sports and extracurricular activities, including cub scouts, girl scouts and YMCA swimming. This is my third year hosting a Fatherhood Program at Lafayette Learning Center, bringing together fathers and father figures to network and share their parenting experiences. Recently, I joined Morristown Rotary and will continue to put service above self.

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

There are multiple opportunities to volunteer and serve and become a community of neighbors helping neighbors. We have many boards and commissions with opportunities, and I’d like to attract new volunteers with fresh ideas and new energy. The first step is to improve how and where information is posted.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

1. Affordable housing

Being able to afford a safe, stable home impacts a family’s health, job stability and more. This topic has come up several times during my meetings with neighbors throughout town. New Jersey has a shortage of affordable housing options for its residents, and certainly the COVID pandemic, which led to widespread business closures and unemployment, exacerbated the issue.

What we need to do in Morristown is better educate the public and ensure that information is readily available. There are funding streams available at both the federal and state level. Recent projects have increased the affordable housing trust fund which will create a funding stream for future affordable housing projects.

I look forward to the opportunity to work with the mayor, administration and council to increase public housing from 15 to 20 percent.

2. Environment

As a father of four who love to be outside and play outside, I want Morristown to be a safe, welcoming environment for all. There is too much refuse on the streets, parks and commercial spaces. As a member of Morristown’s Environmental Commission, we are currently reviewing the locations of trash and recycling receptacles throughout town. Town wide cleans up have been successful, and I’d like to push for more regular clean-ups and additional initiatives, such as an ‘adopt a street’ program.

Additionally, I’d like to address the recent flooding that affected our neighbors of the second ward. An oxbow of the Whippany River is in a low-lying area by Gramby Park. Increased runoff is due to development in surrounding towns. We must engage with other municipalities along the Whippany River, invite experts, and collaborate on possible solutions. Locally, we must work with our Environmental Commission and Shade Tree Commission to review the Whippany River’s footprint in Morristown and consider additional tree plantings and other flood preventative measures.

I encourage the public to attend public hearings and town council meetings and to contact their council representatives with questions.

3. Public Safety

Morristown is a very walkable/dog-friendly town, and we must ensure that pedestrian and bicycling safety is paramount. Additionally, we must ensure that our children are safely able to cross the streets before and after schools, and that cars yield to school buses and pedestrians.

To do this, we must review all public walkways throughout town, ensuring that they are properly marked. Too many times I have seen close calls, and one accident is too many. Additionally, I would work with the administration to increase police patrol and to issues summons, when applicable.

The best deterrent is ensuring a strong police presence. As a citizen, I have escalated concerns about speeding on Franklin Street, and as your at-large councilman, I will continue to work with our administration and keep pressure on enforcement.

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

I have been employed in healthcare settings for my entire professional career, ranging from the primary care of patients to my current work for a pharmaceutical company. In my current role, I am responsible for project/change management, continuous improvement initiatives and organizational transformation. I have demonstrated leadership in program management working with international cross-functional teams and have developed a caring, empathetic personality. These experiences have taught me to work collaboratively and in a focused, efficient manner. These are skills that all elected officials must possess.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

‘Many hands make light work’ -my late grandmother, Rose Bangor Umbriac, who raised my dad and his five brothers in a one-bedroom house.

I want Morristown to become a community of neighbors helping neighbors. We are in this together and must collaboratively continue to put Morristown First for our residents, visitors and future generations.

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

I promise to remain engaged in the community and will serve my constituency throughout Morristown with energy and purpose.

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