West Orange Mayor Candidate Profile: Cindy Matute-Brown

WEST ORANGE, NJ — EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article contains information about Cindy Matute-Brown, one of several candidates who have announced their campaigns for West Orange mayor. Patch has reached out to the other candidates with the same questions, and we will post any replies as they are received.

Cindy Matute-Brown, 51, a Democratic Party member, town council member and former council president, is running for West Orange mayor in the town's nonpartisan municipal election on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Candidates do not choose political parties in nonpartisan elections.

>> Read More: West Orange Mayor Not Seeking Re-Election In 2022 (Updated)

Patch recently asked Matute-Brown four questions about her campaign and the township. See her replies below.

PATCH: What makes you a qualified candidate for West Orange mayor?

MATUTE-BROWN: I am the best qualified candidate in the field because of my vision for our great town, because of my experience working in our local government, and because of my demonstrated dedication to our residents. I will always show up and do the work for all residents of our town. On my campaign website I describe my vision for managing our property tax burden, generating additional revenue streams to reduce our reliance on property taxes, for moving us forward on renewable energy and protection of our environment, and for engaging a full-time town planner so that West Orange can have coherent development that benefits all of our residents and all parts of town.

West Orange needs a strong leader right now. During my four years on Town Council I have initiated and pushed through initiatives that put our town in a better position to control our own future. First, because of my leadership, we defaulted the failed developer Prism and West Orange now controls the destiny of significant acreage downtown. As a result, we have an incredible opportunity to create the downtown our residents want and deserve. Further, when I saw that our state was about to legalize cannabis, I wanted our town and our residents to benefit. So I created the Cannabis Task Force so that we may derive tax revenue from this new industry. As an added benefit, we have been able to support several residents who are starting cannabis businesses. We have a huge opportunity in West Orange right now. We need a strong leader who has specific ideas to move us forward. I am the only candidate who has described specific ideas and the only candidate who can achieve them.

West Orange also needs and deserves a Mayor who has enough experience to be successful in the job. The Mayor in West Orange has a lot of power to act on behalf of the people in this town, but any candidate who does not understand how the mechanics of local government work, who to call at the local, county, and state level to advocate on behalf of our residents will not be successful in this job. When our town government fails to advocate on behalf of our residents at the county level or at the state level for funding and resources, our town government fails our residents. Right now, those in power do not do enough to advocate for our residents. They fail on school funding at the state level, coordination with the Essex County government, and in numerous other ways. There is no management of the relationships with state or county officials and we leave money on the table when we fail to advocate for our town. We have to end the insularity that has plagued our municipal government for far too long. Our residents deserve more from our local representatives.

I have the proven experience, dedication and vision for our town and I cannot wait to get started.

PATCH: Property taxes and development are always big election-year topics in West Orange. What’s your plan for both if elected?

MATUTE-BROWN: Yes, this is the issue I hear about most when I am walking around neighborhoods talking to our residents. They are separate, but related issues, and we also have to tie in school funding and state aid when we talk about this. I have a two-pronged approach, but first, some context: our property taxes support essentially three budgets - approximately 25% of your property tax bill goes to the municipal budget - that’s what the Mayor proposes each year and the Council provides input into. A smaller portion (approximately 15%) supports the Essex County budget and the largest portion, (approximately 60%) supports our incredible public schools.

Candidates for Mayor always talk about vague plans to reduce property taxes - and it never happens. It never happens for several reasons, but I want to focus on two important aspects of our property taxes. First, the municipal budget is a relatively small portion of our property tax bill and even if the municipality controls spending or dips into a prior year’s surplus like we have done historically, the largest impact to your property taxes comes from outside of the municipal budget. The ability of the municipality to truly control all property tax increases is limited if it does not advocate with the county government and the state government on behalf of our residents. Second, but related, is the misapplication of the school funding formula at the state level. The state of New Jersey has not fully funded the school funding formula and by statute, municipalities are required to then make up any shortfall. West Orange has not, in recent memory, had a municipal government that effectively organizes and advocates on behalf of our residents at the state or county level. I believe that this failure is a dereliction of duty and I will change this on my first day as Mayor. I have already spoken with mayors of neighboring towns, including Montclair and Maplewood, about forming a coalition of Mayors to advocate for full school funding for our schools. Right now, the state funds something like 25% of our school budget. If the state fully funded our schools, that would be substantially higher and could meaningfully reduce the unrelenting upward pressure on our property taxes. That’s the first prong, organizing mayors of similarly situated communities to advocate for full school funding. That brings political pressure and, I believe, can have a significant impact not only on our property taxpayers, but also to the benefit of our schools. I am excited to work with our Superintendent, our newly appointed Assistant Superintendent Hayden Moore, and members of our Board of Education so that we can all work together on behalf of our residents.

The second prong is directly related to development. I pushed for us to take back control over substantial acreage downtown so that we, and not the derelict developer Prism, control the development of our downtown. It’s critical that we succeed in our downtown redevelopment so that we can improve the livability of West Orange and also maximize use of our resources and reduce reliance on property taxpayers in town. To make sure that we develop and redevelop correctly, we need a cohesive, thoughtful plan that ties together all areas of our town and will benefit every resident. I will engage a full-time town planner and we will create a plan that guides smart development in our town so that we raise up all residents. I have learned a lot since joining the Council and I don’t think we need to have special tax breaks for developers. The potential for profits and benefits to developers are so great in our town that I don’t think we necessarily need to grant such benefits. I have to say; however, that I do believe that in some situations such short-term benefits may be warranted. It’s case by case and we have to look at what the timeline is, what the benefit is, and what the likely increase in property values are for a particular project. It is critical that our municipal government hold developers accountable. We cannot have another derelict developer like we had with Prism. We won’t while I’m Mayor.

PATCH: What’s one thing about West Orange that always puts a smile on your face?

MATUTE-BROWN: My husband and I chose to raise our children in West Orange because of the opportunities that we knew they would have coming from this town. The rich diversity of our community, the educational opportunities, and the people we found here put a smile on our faces the day we moved in 2001 and it continues to put a smile on my face every day. Our community comes together for each other and we will continue to rise together.

PATCH: Is there a post on your social media account that really sums up your campaign in a nutshell?

MATUTE-BROWN: This election is so critical for our town. I hope and trust that our residents will engage and dig into the issues and opportunities we have and really understand each candidate’s proposals, record, character, and dedication. My platform is described in detail on my campaign website: www.cindyformayor.com/vision. My record is described in detail on my campaign website: www.cindyformayor.com/dedication. And how my belief about why this election is terribly important for our town is described in detail on my website as well: www.cindyformayor.com/leadership. I have tried to present proposals and ideas that are specific and to which voters will be able to hold me to account. I love where this town is headed and I am so excited for all the things we will be able to achieve together.

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