Get To Know Chester Borough Council Candidate Gary Marshuetz

Editor's Note: Patch sent out questionnaires to every candidate who filed a petition of candidacy by the deadline. We sent them to the email addresses registered as the official campaign emails at the County Clerk's Office. We will run the responses in the order they were received with no edits. Those candidates who did not receive a questionnaire should double check their spam folders, or contact russ.crespolini@patch.com for a form.

Name: Gary William Marshuetz

Age (as of Election Day) 52

Position Sought Council Member

Party Affiliation Republican

Family Wife of 29 years, Dana, Two adult sons and one son in Mendham High School

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No member of my family works in politics or government other than myself

Education Morris County College, Criminal Justice, Kean University, Public Administration, Centenary College, Sociology

Occupation Chief of Police, 32 years in law enforcement with 22 years in a supervisory role

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office Council Member

Campaign website N/A Why are you seeking elective office? Instilled in me is a lifelong desire to serve. I feel it an honor and privilege to give back to a wonderful community, which has offered so much to my family. Chester is a real gem in Morris County, but it needs quality leadership to keep it this way. It is unique in the sense of having many small businesses elegantly intertwined within the residential community. They are interdependent on each other. This is exactly where experience is necessary to ensure their prosperity.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. The largest issue currently facing the Borough is related to infrastructure, growth and land use. To provide for the safety and well-being of our community, residents must be mindful of infrastructure needs, such as the potential sewer system, and how they directly relate to land use. Additionally, the burden placed on small municipalities by way of COAH obligations must be taken into account. I intend to work closely with our Land Use Board, the Mayor, and other municipal leaders to ensure growth is managed in a way so as to provide for a positive aesthetic without becoming a financial detriment.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? In my opinion, you need to have both experience as well as a diverse background to succeed in this position. Before serving on the Council I learned land use regulations as a member of the Planning Board, participated on numerous committees and spearheaded multiple shared service agreements which resulted in significant savings to both the Borough as well as to the taxpayer. This has been a mainstay of my public service.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency) N/A Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform Coming from a professional background in both Public Safety and Law Enforcement, my expanded platform will include having a Borough that addresses unsafe traffic related issues and maintaining an overall preparedness for potential natural and man-made events. Finally, having served for years on the Financial Committee, I bring a strong focus toward stabilizing property taxes, which is crucial to maintaining the overall value of the Municipality.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? During my tenure on the Council, I have worked with four Business Administrators, three Mayors, and numerous Council members. I believe I have earned their trust as a person who consistently respects others while always putting the taxpayer first. Being an instrumental part of favorable outcomes on land acquisitions, shared service contracts, and matters of finance and litigation will further enable me to deal with situations as they arise. An often unseen skill I have is dealing with complex personnel issues, gleaned from years in various aspects of public service. I am currently in my second term as Council President. On a more personal note, I feel as though many other experiences will help me handle this position. I’ve been happily married to my wife Dana for twenty eight years. We raised our three children here, watching them grow up and experience everything Chester Borough had to offer.

The best advice ever shared with me was: Listen intently to all the information and ideas being presented to you and only afterwards make a decision, based on facts and always with the Borough's benefit in mind.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I pride myself on working hard, staying humble, and being kind. Many residents are often busy with the everyday challenges of life, so they need a sound, approachable leader who is making decisions on their behalf.