Watchung Mayoral Candidate: Keith Balla​

WATCHUNG, NJ — Keith Balla is one of the two candidates running for mayor in the contested 2018 Watchung election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.

Two candidates are vying for the four-year mayoral term: Democrat Keith Balla and Republican Stephen Black.

There are also four candidates vying for two, three-year seats on the borough council: Democrats Lindsay Goodloe and Daryl Eisenberg Knegton and Republicans David Mobus and Maria Alberto.

Keith Balla

I am currently running for Mayor of Watchung. In 1998 my wife Karen and I moved to Watchung primarily because of the school system and tranquil community. We previously lived in Newark for the prior 10 years where I ran for the Newark Board of Education to try to improve the Newark School system which was horrific and dysfunctional. Karen and I have been in Watchung 20 years and raised our three children, Jonah, Noah and Hannah. All three of our children have gone to Bayberry and Valley View Schools. Our daughter Hannah is now a senior at Watchung Hills.

My wife Karen has been a preschool assistant and music director at the Giving Nest Preschool in Watchung for many years. In my professional life I have more than 30 years’ experience performing operational reviews and forensic investigations of municipalities and school districts to identify and eliminate fraud, waste and abuse and provide solutions for operations efficiency. I chair the Forensic, Litigation and Valuation Department of PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP , a large regional Accounting and Consulting firm with office in NJ, NY, CT, MD.

I have also testified in court in numerous litigation cases as an economic damages expert. I have provided business consulting advice to many business clients over the past 37 years. I bring to the Watchung municipal government, skills, education, training, experience and knowledge that no one has in the Watchung government.

In my business I have successfully helped government entities in New Jersey resolve difficult matters and develop creative solutions to better the communities and seek to use my talents to better Watchung. I have also been active with numerous not for profits over the past 30-plus years both in urban development and with various charitable organizations and community groups. I look forward to working with the residents utilizing my skills and experience to make Watchung a thriving community to live and raise a family.

If elected:

1. I will develop a plan for affordable housing that is pleasing and located in an appropriate area of Watchung versus the current councils 22 years of lack of any planning which is resulting in the decimation of pristine wood lands and detrimental to our community.
2. I will seek to evaluate the assets of Watchung to better manage the assets to provide a library, community, center and arts center for the community without increasing debt.
3. I will put a stop to the irresponsible spending and debt increases which the current elected officials have saddled the taxpayers of Watchung with and investigate who benefited by the $8 million of debt used to purchase the Ness property, which was only valued at $3.5 million and now is valued by the Watchung tax assessor at approximately $2.5 million at the expense of Watchung taxpayers.
4. I will work collaboratively with the school board to improve our school system which has been in decline over the past six years.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the profile, please email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

(Image provided: Keith Balla)

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