Bernards Township Committee General Election 2025: A.W. 'Bill' McMahon

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township's general election on Nov. 4 has four candidates running for two seats on the Committee.

Republican Bill McMahon is running for one of two, three-year open seats on the Township Committee, along with incumbent David Tancredi.

Stephen Brett Hodges and John P. Tompkins are running on the Democratic ticket.

Are you running for office in Basking Ridge? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Bridgewater Patch.

A.W. “Bill” McMahon

Age: 69

Town of residence: Bernards Township

Position sought: Bernards Township Committee

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: Bill and his wife Carol have been residents of Bernards Township for 28 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. Daughter Sara attended middle school and high school in Bernards Township, where she was a varsity football cheerleader and played basketball. She now lives in Mendham with her husband, Nick and their three children, ages 1, 3 and 5. Their son Brian attended Bernards Township middle school and then went on to Delbarton for high school where he played both varsity football and baseball. Brian is recently married and lives in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, Rachel.

Education: University of Wisconsin with a degree in Economics

Occupation: Retired Morgan Stanley executive

Previous or current elected appointed office: In 2020, Bill was elected to serve as the President of The Hills Highland Master Association, a role he continues to fill; overseeing community governance and operations. In addition to being president, he also serves on the Association’s Strategic Planning and Finance committees. In 2023, Bill became an arbiter for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), resolving disputes in the financial industry through arbitration proceedings.

Campaign website: TancrediMcMahon.com, Facebook.com/TancrediMcMahon , instagram.com/TancrediMcMahon

Why are you seeking election for the Bernards Township Committee?

My running mate David Tancredi and I are fiscal conservatives devoted to promoting efficient, responsive, transparent and community-engaged government. We are committed to keeping Bernards Township safe and welcoming and want all families in Bernards Township to have the same positive experiences that we have enjoyed here while raising our families. Our campaign motto “Putting Bernards First” epitomizes our governing principles and reflects our philosophy of working to maintain inclusivity. David and I look forward to representing all Bernards residents. We celebrate Bernard’s rich diversity, and recognize that every resident brings unique talents and perspectives that contribute to the strength of Bernards. David and I will encourage residents to attend public meetings and follow the issues impacting our community. We believe that community engagement, openness, accountability and honesty define transparency in government. We will listen to the concerns of residents with an open mind and will foster honest and candid discussion. We believe this to be the hallmark of good government.

The Committee recently approved its fourth-round affordable housing plan that includes housing for families, seniors, and the developmentally disabled. What do you think of this plan?

Every municipality throughout New Jersey faces the challenge of meeting its Affordable Housing obligations imposed by the courts and Bernards Township is no exception. The courts should not be deciding how our local zoning works given that overdevelopment has the potential to negatively affect our quality of life, creating adverse impacts on our schools, traffic, emergency services and finances. The long-term solution is to work with neighboring towns and our elected state officials to find appropriate solutions that make sense and have bipartisan support. Progress on the challenges of overdevelopment and implementing future Affordable Housing mandates can only be achieved by working together in a collaborative manner.

Crime and resources for police have been a topic of discussion in the Township. How do you feel about the Township's support of the police department?

The Township Committee has always been a big supporter of the Bernards Police Department and first responders. Our town is among the safest in New Jersey and the entire United States, which is a testament to the men and women in blue as well as all our first responders who tirelessly serve our community. In this spirit, the Township Committee should continue to work with our state and county officials to ensure that crime is appropriately addressed at all levels of government.

The Committee approved a budget with a 3.76 percent increase over last year. How do you feel about the Township's handling of the budget and financing?

The Township is committed to prudent, fiscally conservative government and keeping Bernards 100% debt free while maintaining a balanced budget. The governing philosophy has long been to maintain thoughtful spending with a “pay as you go” approach to expenditures. Remaining debt free has enabled our taxes to remain reasonable in light of the value received by our residents. This should continue to be the approach.

What other issues do you feel need to be tackled in the Township?

Bernards Township has long been one of the best places in the entire United States to live and raise a family. The challenge going forward will be to protect and preserve the great quality of life all our residents enjoy. As previously noted, one of the biggest issues facing our town is overdevelopment.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

Bill has had a successful career in business and philanthropy. His extensive leadership and governance experience in financial services and community organizations, together with his strong background in philanthropy and community engagement, make Bill a strong candidate for the role of Township Committee.

He began his career as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch in St. Paul Minnesota, where he provided financial advisory services to clients and led the branch sales operations. Bill joined the Morgan Stanley Wealth Management team in 1984. In 1997, he was promoted to Global Head of Training at Morgan Stanley based in New York City. While at Morgan Stanley, Bill received a number of promotions, retiring in 2021 as Managing and Divisional Director, responsible for $8 Billion in revenue and 12,000 employees.

From 2015 to 2019, Bill also served as Chairman of the Morgan Stanley Foundation where he guided philanthropic initiatives and community-impact efforts. From 2011 to 2018, Bill was a member of the Board of Directors for Feeding America, providing strategic oversight for the one of the nation’s largest hunger-relief organizations.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

Before deciding where to raise the family, Bill and his wife Carol, together with their two small children at the time, visited a number of towns in New Jersey, but immediately fell in love with Basking Ridge. Bill notes that: “The town has changed and evolved quite a bit over these past 28 years but has retained its charm. It’s always been a great place to live and raise a family and I want to make sure it stays that way.”

On September 11th, 2001 Bill was working in the World Trade Center on the 69th floor of the South Tower when the first plane hit. He and his fellow employees were guided to the emergency stairwell by the head of security, Rick Rescorla, whose heroic efforts saved thousands of souls that day. Bill and his fellow employees were proceeding down the stairwell when the 2nd plane hit. He and three of his team members were approximately four blocks away when the South Tower collapsed. Sadly, Rick was among the first responders who gave their lives that day to save others. To this day, Bill continues to be an advocate for Rick and all the first responders who gave their lives on 9/11 to save others.

Please vote for Bill McMahon and David Tancredi for Bernards Township Committee. Early voting is available from October 25 th – November 2 nd . The last date to register to vote is October 14th . Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked or dropped in a secure drop box on or before 8 pm on November 4 th . To vote on election day, visit your polling location between 6 am and 8 pm to cast your vote. www.TancrediMcMahon.com