Election 2023: Rob Strobel For West Morris Regional School Board

MENDHAM, NJ — Election Day is nearing, and Mendham voters will soon head to the polls to cast their votes for a seat on the regional high school board.

Patch sent questionnaires to all candidates, seeking their responses. Here is the response from candidate Rob Strobel.

Editor's Note: Patch emailed all candidates at the email addresses listed for their campaigns in the clerk's office. The responses will be revealed between now and the general election on November 7. These comments will be published with just minor stylistic changes. Candidates who wish to participate but did not receive an invitation should email vianella.burns@patch.com.

Name: Rob Strobel

Age: 62

Town of residence: Mendham Township

Position sought: Mendham Township Representative to the West Morris Regional High School District

Family: Married with two daughters. Like me, my wife has volunteered to serve Mendham Township and its students. She served in positions in the schools, as Leader of the Girls Scouts of the Mendhams and as a library board trustee and secretary.

Education: Mendham High School, University of Virginia Finance and Vanderbilt University Law School

Occupation: Recently retired from a Fortune 100 company where I spent the last 21 years providing legal advice to multi-billion dollar business segments.

Previous or current elected appointed office: West Morris Regional School Board (9 years); Mendham Township Committee (3 years) and Mendham Township Environmental Commission (8 years)

Why are you seeking to run for school board?

Attending Mendham High School is among the best things that ever happened to me. I am passionate about providing that same experience for many future generations.

What, in your opinion, is the most pressing issue in the school district?

There are two issues. First is the 2 percent tax cap. Navigating it to sustainably deliver outstanding programs and facilities benefitting all students is difficult when cost increases outside a board's control such as health care, transportation and special education, often exceed 2 percent, particularly in the current high inflation environment. Second is attracting and retaining outstanding teachers at a time when fewer people are entering the profession.

What sets you apart from the other candidates?

Two things. First, a proven record of delivering more programming and better facilities benefitting all students despite the 2 percent tax cap.

Second, a willingness to respect and consider all points of view.

For example, my opponent has repeatedly only referenced the over 400 people who', like her, sought to ban a critically acclaimed, but controversial memoir, Fun Home. She refuses to even acknowledge, let alone consider, the views of the over 400 petitioners who sought to allow the continued use of the memoir with 12th graders by our teachers. Considering both viewpoints led me to fashion a compromise that made the book a 12th-grade choice instead of a required read. This preserved every student's liberty to choose to read the book or not.

What special qualifications do you bring to help meet the challenge?

My legal training provides an analytical framework for considering multiple points of view and for understanding the complex array of regulations impacting schools. My finance training provides the skills for reviewing budgets and analyzing the impacts of the many decisions a board member makes about the allocation of taxpayer dollars.

What else would you like to share about yourself or your campaign?

Every day I think to myself that I am one lucky person to get to live in Mendham Township. Campaigning has further confirmed that good fortune. This is a special place, with beautiful open space, remarkable schools and educated, engaged residents.