Election 2022: Melissa Rawley-Payne For Mendham Borough Mayor

MENDHAM, NJ — Election Day is coming up on November 8, and candidates are set for the Mendham Borough Mayoral race.

Patch sent questionnaires to both candidates running for Mayor, asking them to share information about themselves and why voters should choose them to represent the borough.

The responses received will get published between now and Election Day.

Here are candidate Melissa Rawley-Payne's answers below:

• Name: Melissa Rawley-Payne
• Age: 45
• Town of residence: Mendham Borough
• Position sought: Mayor
• Party affiliation: Democrat

• Family: Melissa and her husband Dr. Anthony Payne, have two children, Cole and Ethan, who both attend West Morris Mendham High School. Her mother, Shelia Coker, resides at Holly Manor. Their family has 4 wild but very sweet dogs - Maggie, Bailey, Nicki and Georgie. They are so glad to have chosen Mendham as their home. Their kids have thrived here, and they have all felt embraced by the wonderful community here.
• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Florida (Gainesville, FL) in 2000; Master of Arts degree in Psychology Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) in 2004
• Occupation: Director of Program and Alliance Management at Schrodinger, Inc., in New York City
• Previous or current elected appointed office: None

Why are you seeking elective office?

While out in the community for a few months now sharing my run for Mayor of Mendham Borough on the Democrat ticket, I get this question quite a lot. Although Mendham Borough is a historically conservative town, I can feel the change in the air, and I hope to build on this momentum bringing a fresh perspective to the town. I have been politically active supporting other campaigns at the local and national level for over 10 years now. I have seen the political process at work and wanted to be more directly involved, in a town that my family loves.

If elected, what do you hope to accomplish while serving on the council?

• Transparency of local government
• Community engagement
• Green energy initiatives
• Support of small businesses
• Assessing and addressing infrastructure needs
• Preservation of wildlife and green spaces
• Diversity and inclusion initiatives

What do you think is the most pressing issue facing residents right now and what do you intend to do about it?

One of the biggest challenges (while likely the easiest to fix) facing Mendham Borough is an issue with transparency when it comes to local government. After numerous discussions with neighbors while on the campaign trail, it is has become even more clear that the community does not currently feel engaged about what is happening at the local government level in town. For example, there is little to no communication regarding the timeline for specific streets to be repaved, what is happening with the old pool & tennis club behind Kings, what is the status of the affordable housing requirement, what is the plan to bring businesses to Mendham Borough to fill vacant storefronts on Main Street, etc.

If elected, I would plan to address these transparency issues and engage the community through: ensuring council meetings are available in person, virtually and aired on Mendham TV, providing an opportunity for questions during the council meetings even if they need to be addressed at a later date, listing all members of committees on the town website rather than just the council members, leveraging citizen review committees and surveys to gather community feedback, and providing regular updates on the Mendhamnj.org website and social media to ensure residents are well informed of what the local government and committees are working and progress being made.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence that you can handle this job?

In my past roles in business within the academic, Pharma/biotech and non-profit sectors, I have been responsible for managing large teams and projects, overseeing global logistics, ensuring compliance with global regulations, and overseeing large infrastructure projects. In addition to my work experience, I am extremely dedicated to serving the local community. I completed a two year term as the Treasurer for the West Morris Juniors Women’s Club at the end of last year and served as the Chair of this year's Spelling Bee in January. I am also a founding member of the Mendhams Diversity Committee, helping to coordinate Mendham's first annual Holi event, and volunteer for the Friends of the Randolph Animal Shelter via their Petsmart program in Rockaway when work and family time permit.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

Given all of my experience in business and serving our local community, along with my enthusiastic and driven spirit, I would jump right in to address the challenges facing Mendham Borough and explore innovative ways to solve them, while preserving the historic nature of the town. Every day, I would make it my mission to work hard to ensure Mendham Borough is an even better place to live than it already is.