Take Five: Summit Council Candidate Danny O'Sullivan

SUMMIT, NJ - There are seats opening up on the Summit governing body and Patch caught up with the candidates ahead of the general election this November.

Questionnaires were sent out out to all candidates registered with the County Clerk's Office in the 2019 general election using the email addresses they went on file with. The responses will be posted on the site by those who submitted in the order in which they were received. They will also be included in an election preview wrap.

This Take Five features Summit Council candidate Danny O'Sullivan. His responses to the questions are below and unedited.

Why are you running for office?

We love Summit. My wife Sharon and I moved here 13 years ago with our three kids, Sam, Olivia, and Ronan. We chose Summit for the high quality schools, its vibrant downtown, and the proximity to New York City. Besides all of those things, we found Summit to be a tight knit community where we’ve made wonderful friends and have enjoyed watching our kids participate in the very diverse sports and arts programs. Upon moving to Summit I became involved as a volunteer almost immediately as a religious education teacher, coach of both girls and boys sports teams, behind the scenes at several school musicals, and most recently on the Economic Development Advisory Committee. As our kids are growing up, I feel a responsibility to serve on Town Council so that I can give more of my time and energy to this community that has given us so much.

What is the biggest challenge you see facing your community and how will you address it?

The Broad Street West Redevelopment is the biggest issue facing Summit for the next several years. We need to ensure that we get it right. What do I mean by that? The redevelopment has to fit the character of our beautiful downtown while fulfilling the communities’ needs going forward. This redevelopment has the potential to provide housing across a variety of income levels, Class A office space, retail space, mixed use entertainment options, and more community green space. It also needs to be pedestrian friendly for easy access to Summit Downtown and NJ Transit. The need to expand our commercial tax base is real and this is an optimal opportunity to accomplish that goal.

What makes you the right person to vote for? I am aware of the uncontested nature of the election, but voters deserve to know why they should be giving you a mandate to govern.

My volunteer experience in Summit has allowed me to get to know my neighbors at the grass roots level and to build relationships all over town. I also work as a substitute teacher across all Summit schools. Running unopposed is out of my control but I don’t think it gives me special authority to carry out policies as I see fit. On the contrary, I feel the need to listen more and connect with people across the political spectrum. Through coaching, volunteering, and substitute teaching, I have a unique perspective, but also want to fairly represent the diverse needs and opinions in Summit. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I am currently knocking on doors to speak with Summit residents and business owners. I’m canvassing to hear more on the thoughts and needs of the people I will be representing on council.

What will you do to facilitate communication with the community?

One of the many advantages of being 6’11” is I’m very visible. Being as tall as I am has opened many doors for me personally and professionally. It’s allowed to connect with people from all walks of life. When I’m elected to Council I will need to connect with the community on a wider scale. Most people are on social media these days and it will be the easiest way to reach a larger audience, especially since I will communicate my work on Council with transparency. Facebook, with its ease of use and reach, makes it the ideal platform to make that happen. One of my goals on Council is to bring more people into the conversation. I plan on having an open scheduled coffee at a Summit local business once a month and would welcome anyone who would like to sit down together. I will post these on social in advance. I also welcome any thoughts or feedback at my campaign email at votedannyosullivan@gmail.com. I believe we all have a responsibility to be active participants in our political process and want to understand what is important and meaningful directly from the people I will be representing.

What inspires you?

I grew up in a working class family in the Bronx, NY and Bayonne, NJ. My father passed away leaving my mother to raise 4 young children. She worked hard so that her children would have a better life than hers. She waited tables and later became a custodian in Bayonne High School to make ends meet. She raised us to be honest and respectful and to treat everyone the way we want to be treated. She preached the importance of education because she was unable to get the formal education she desperately wanted. She knew a great education was one of the keys to success so she made sure that we all graduated from college. She was an active participant in her church always looking for ways to give back to her community. My mother is a superhero to me and I know there are many other people with the same hopes and dreams that she had. That’s why my mother, and people like her, inspires me everyday.

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