Glen Rock Council Election Profile: Caroline Unzaga

GLEN ROCK, NJ — Caroline Unzaga, in her own words, on why she's running for a seat on the Borough Council.

Age (as of Election Day)

39

Position Sought

Borough Council

Party Affiliation

Democratic

Family

Jay Unzaga (husband) 42 years old, Lutheran Pastor and Volunteer Fireman; Isabel (daughter), 11 years old; Sebastian (son), 9 years old

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS in Business Administration, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; MDiv, Princeton Theological Seminary

Occupation

Presbyterian Minister and Hospital Chaplain (10+ years experience)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Glen Rock Borough Council Member (current)

Campaign website

www.forwardgr.org

Why are you seeking elective office?

When my family and I moved to Glen Rock 4 years ago, we found a community to belong to. It's important to me to continue the good work that the GR council has been doing to move Glen Rock forward and to be a welcoming town for generations to come.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Covid-19 response: I will continue to work with my fellow council members and the mayor to follow the science and to Re-Start Glen Rock safely and responsibly. I am committed to keeping the Covid infection rates low and keeping residents safe. I will continue to communicate important information to residents, work with businesses to re-open, monitor our budget, and maintain essential services.

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

As Tip O'Neill said, "All politics is local." I believe that we can focus on the budget and essential services in the town, while also promoting inclusion, diversity, and environmental initiatives that make us stronger as a community. My opponents suggest to stick with local issues, that don't have to do with the national conversation. I disagree.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

We have 4 pillars of our campaign: Responsible Covid-19 response; Fiscal Health; Environmental Initiatives; and Promoting Diversity and Inclusion.

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

During this pandemic, the council maintained the budget and made decisions about services to keep the financial burden low on residents and maintain the safety of residents and employees of the town. In addition, I was part of the Re-Start Glen Rock task force that reached out to local businesses. I also held a forum for Stigma-Free to promote resiliency in the time of Covid.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Meaningful dialogue can only happen in an environment of trust.

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

I have spent my professional life working to make the communities that I have served more just and compassionate. I bring that same motivation to my service in Glen Rock. I hope residents will join me, council president Amy Martin, and Jon Cole in moving Glen Rock forward together.