Election 2024: West Morris School Board Candidate John Sheppard

LONG VALLEY, NJ — In the 2024 general election, Washington Township residents will be voting for local school board seats and Town Council members, as well as some Morris County offices. They'll also see candidates for the presidential race, and for their representatives in Congress.

Patch has asked local candidates in contested races to answer some questions about their campaigns, which we've included below.

As a quick note, early voting begins on Saturday, Oct. 26, and the general election is on Tuesday, Nov 5.

Here is the candidate profile of John Sheppard, a current member of the West Morris Regional High School District Board of Education who is running for re-election.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out the same questions to all candidates, using the email addresses listed for their campaign on the county clerk’s office. The responses received will be published between now and the Nov. 5 general election; any questions that the candidate did not answer will be left out. Local candidates who would like to participate but did not receive an email (for whatever reason) can contact Michelle.Rotuno-Johnson@patch.com.

Name: John Sheppard

Town of residence: Washington Township (Morris County)

Education: Some college

Occupation: Insurance / Surety broker, real estate investor

Candidate website or social media page: www.voteshep.com

What inspired you to seek public office?

I decided to seek a seat on the WMRHSD Board of Education when a former board member stepped down. I wanted to make sure that the board would have enough members in order to function properly, and felt it was my civic duty to volunteer my time. I am really glad that I did because I have really enjoyed being part of a great team of people who seek to make this school district an amazing place.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

Respectfully, I do not know the other candidates very well. I can say that I am an active and engaged member of the Board, serving on multiple board committees. I feel that my professional experience gives me a unique perspective on challenges the Board faces, as it allows me to look at things analytically while at the same time considering the best possible outcome for all parties.

In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing the West Morris Regional HS District, and how would you address it?

I believe the biggest issue facing our District is the retention and recruitment of the best possible professionals. Doing this will provide our students with the best possible opportunities for achievement in the various ways students engage with the District; be it academically, socially, through sports or other activities. The challenge of course is that our desire to provide this must be tempered against responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The way I believe we should address this is to continue to take an integrative, long term, and measured approach to spending and expense management. The recent referendum is an example of this type of strategy: https://referendum.wmrhsd.org/

Name one thing about West Morris Regional Schools that always makes you smile.

The community. The District as a whole, but specifically the WMC community is awesome. It is made up of great people, who come together to get great things done. From everyone at "Friday night lights" to our award winning Robotics club, to our amazing musicians and performers of all kinds WMC is a really special place that has been very good to my family and I, and I feel blessed to be part of it.

Finally, do you want to tell voters anything else about you, or your goals for this position?

About me? Well, my wife Jen and I have lived in Long Valley for almost 20 years and we are proud parents of a student athlete at WMC. As far as this position goes; I want to continue to advocate for improved Board transparency and community access through streaming the public portions of our Board meetings, I want to continue to execute on our strategy of retaining and recruiting the best educators, faculty and staff, and I want to continue to act as a faithful steward of community resources.

More info on election deadlines and early voting

For new voters, New Jersey’s deadline to register for the Nov. 5 election is Oct. 15. This is also the deadline for people who need to update their registration to change their name or their address on their voter record.

In-person early voting for the general election will be Oct. 26 through Nov. 3. Hours are Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.

Here's where to vote early in Morris County.

If you are already registered to vote and want to check your registration status or see where your polling place is, you may do so online.

Any New Jersey voter may apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by completing the application by Oct. 29, and returning it to their county clerk's office.

Then, they may return their ballot by mail, in a secure ballot drop box, or at the county Board of Elections office.

New Jersey voters will also select a U.S. Senator to replace Democrat Bob Menendez, who resigned from office after being convicted in a high-profile bribery trial. All of the state's seats in the House of Representatives are also on the ballot, and you can look up which district you live in here.

Related articles:

• See Early Voting, Candidate Info For Election Day 2024 In Long Valley
• Contested School Board Races Kick Off In Long Valley