Election 2021: Mendham Twp. Committee Candidate Meredith Sahi

MENDHAM, NJ — The Nov. 2 General Election is getting closer and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the election.

Editor's Note: Are you a candidate on the ballot? Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the General Election. Candidates who would like to participate but did not receive one (for whatever reason) may contact jennifer.miller@patch.com.

One of these candidates is Meredith L. Sahi, a Democratic candidate who is running for one of two three-year seats that are up for grabs in the Mendham Township Committee race, with Mayor Sarah Neibart and Deputy Mayor Nick Monaghan, each up for re-election. Another candidate is Sahi’s running mate, Eric A. Inglis.

Sahi’s responses to Patch’s questions are below:

Name: Meredith Sahi

Age: 47

Town of residence: Mendham Township

Position sought: Township Committee

Party affiliation: Democratic

Family: My husband Avi, my daughter Anjali, 8 and my son Akash, 6.

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Political Science from Barnard College;
Masters of Science, Development Economics and Management from London School of Economics and Political Science

Occupation: Executive Search

Previous or current elected appointed office: Co-Chair, The Mendhams Diversity Committee

Why are you seeking elective office?
I care deeply about Mendham Township and am driven to serve and effect positive change in our community. I am seeking a seat on the Mendham Township Committee because our current Mayor and Deputy Mayor simply do not demonstrate what good leadership looks like, and I felt compelled to do something about it.

If you are taking the time to read this, I would assume that you also believe Mendham is a truly magnificent place that deserves the best from our leadership. I have had a great time walking around town, knocking on hundreds of doors and meeting residents, and learning about what issues that matter to them. Getting to know more people in town has been a wonderful benefit of running for office.

The single most pressing issue facing us is recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you intend to do about it?
The number one issue is keeping our schools safe. The Mendham Township Board of Education, teachers and administration have done an exemplary job of keeping our schools safe and open throughout the 2020 – 2021 and current school year, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

To keep our schools safe, we need to follow the protocols put in place to protect our students and teachers and continue to increase the vaccination rates in our community.

To that end, we have certainly learned about the vital impact of leading by example when it comes to COVID safety measures. Sarah Neibart did not choose to set such an example. I was extremely disappointed to learn that although Sarah sent numerous emails speaking to the importance of COVID safety refused to wear a mask at in-person Township Committee Meetings, endangering her fellow Township Committee members. She also advocated for in-person voting at the height of COVID, putting her partisan interests above those of our community. In addition, she joined a partisan, all-Republican Mayors for Main Street Alliance in May 2020 that pushed for faster re-opening of businesses, when we don’t even have a business district.

While it is ultimately up to the individual to make choices around behavior within the confines of the law, I take exception to the inconsistency between the public image she fostered in her written communication and her behavior. Residents deserve honest and transparent communication from their elected officials, especially when it has an impact on their personal safety and welfare of their families. I promise to lead by example and make COVID safety a priority.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
1. We will provide genuine support to the DPW. Nick and Sarah have supported reducing the DPW staff, leading to poor morale in the department. They have even supported studies on how to reduce the DPW down to only four positions and outsourcing everything. Is it any wonder DPW employees are walking out the door to work elsewhere?
Residents have clearly and consistently demonstrated their strong support for the DPW - on lawn signs, at Township Committee meetings, in newspaper articles and on social media. Sarah and Nick have ignored their voices. Eric and I promise to listen and act in the best interest of our community.
2. We will make fiscally responsible decisions for Mendham Township and put an end to the increasing debt.
3. We will endeavor to work toward greater bipartisan cooperation. Sarah and Nick have made no such efforts. We will restore respect and transparent communication to the Township Committee. We will put an end to the pattern of disrespect that the Republican members of the Township Committee have shown toward our residents, volunteers, and employees. Earlier this year, Nick Monaghan proposed a resolution to prevent proclamations supporting issues such as Autism Awareness and Black History Month, claiming they were not “local” issues. Clearly, Nick doesn’t understand or respect members of the community he is responsible for governing, and in this case, he failed them. By choosing Nick as her running mate, Sarah is making a statement on where she stands on this issue.
The incumbent candidates have done a poor job when it comes to communicating with our residents about major development projects, and this has led to anger and divisiveness in our community. They are also clearly very pro-development and want to see property rezoned to allow for denser housing. We need to balance growth with protecting open space and our fragile environment. That’s why so many people are drawn to live in our community. Eric and I will be more effective, timely and consistent in our communication with residents regarding important issues that impact their quality of life.
The Republican majority on our Township Committee are frequently unable to communicate civilly with residents who express opinions that differ from their own. They have gone so far as to publicly berate members of our community.
Eric and I are completely aligned on the goal of ensuring all members of our community feel recognized, supported and welcomed.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? My personal and professional experiences have equipped me with experiences that are well suited to the Mendham Township Committee.

My volunteer activities, as a founder and Co-Chair of the Mendhams Diversity Committee and as a Girl Scout Troop leader, demonstrate the qualities of service and leadership I bring to our community. This year, I also jumped in to help every Tuesday morning with the restoration of the Walled Garden at Pitney Park. The collaboration across a team of volunteers highlights what a great community we live in. That’s the type of teamwork that allows us to impact change. If I am
elected to the Township Committee, I would endeavor to bring this spirit of partnership to benefit our town.!

I have managed my own small business for 12 years. My professional experience as an Executive Recruiter for leading organizations in the financial services, general corporate and not for profit world has afforded me a keen grasp of what effective leadership and management looks like. Integrity, strategic thinking, clear and consistent communication, an orientation toward planning for the future, and the ability to make staff and volunteers know that their hard work is acknowledged and appreciated are key traits of the leaders of the successful organizations I have served partnered with.

Our current Republican Leadership has had a negative impact on our ability to attract and retain staff in critical roles such as Town Administrator, Town CFO, and within organizations such as the Police Department and DPW.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Two come to mind. The first is to live your life with integrity. The second might be more inspiration than advice…Around the time when I was considering the opportunity to join the Democratic ticket for a seat on Mendham Township Committee, someone pointed out that while COVID has presented countless challenges and asked a great deal from all of us in so many ways, in the grand scheme of things, most of our Mendham community were extremely lucky relative to much of our country and certainly the rest of world. That good fortune places a duty on all of us to give back to our community in some way. A seat on the Mendham Township Committee is an extremely meaningful way to serve this community I have grown to love.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.