Get To Know Mendham Borough Council Candidate John Andrews

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:

John W. Andrews

Age (as of Election Day)

52

Position Sought

Councilman

Party Affiliation

Republican

Family

Wife of 18 years Suzanne. My father Ray and his wife Eileen have lived in the Borough in the Mendham Commons for the past 28 years.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

United States Marine Corps 1986-1994, discharged at rank of Sergeant
Graduate of County College of Morris – AS Degree in Criminal Justice on the GI Bill

Occupation

While I have held many roles in my career, including owning my own small business here in town, I currently devote most of my time to the Borough of Mendham on the Council, and also serve as the First Aid Squad Captain. In addition, I am currently a Trustee of the Pastime Club, and the Vice President of ‘Marines Care’ - a 501 c3 charity.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Mendham Borough Councilman – 2015 to present

Campaign website

Our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/VoteAndrewsBadal/

Why are you seeking elective office?

As a resident of the Borough of Mendham for the past 25 years, I have a deep appreciation for the wonderful people, history, natural areas, and quality of life that we enjoy in Mendham. I have always believed in the responsibility of all citizens to support and assist the community they live in. I am leading by example in my capacity as Councilman for the past six years, and hope to continue serving my neighbors and friends in the coming three years, if re-elected.
The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Single most pressing issue facing our community is balancing the quality of services we provide to our residents while maintain fiscal responsibility, and this is what I intend to do about it.
The Borough’s municipal debt will be under one million dollars by the end of this year and we are working on paying off all debt by 2021, becoming a ‘pay-as-you-go’ municipality. Once this goal is achieved, we can avoid future borrowing and payment of interest rates. The savings will likely lower the rising taxes that impact all of New Jersey, giving our residents some relief.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am endorsed by Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner, former Mayor Neil Henry, and the Mendham Borough PBA Local 384
Experience matters: 6 years on the Council – I am currently the Chair of the Public Safety Committee. I am also a member of the Finance and Personnel Committees, and previously chaired the Land Use and Personnel Committees. Before my service on the Council, I served on the Recreation Committee for 6 years. I am a Life Member and the current Captain on the Mendham First Aid Squad and have been a member and officer for the past 9+ years serving my neighbors. For many years running I have been a top responder, responding to 200 + calls for service per year.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

Other campaign issues that I support are to expand and refine existing shared services with our neighbors (for example, the shared municipal court with Washington Twp), seeking additional opportunities for efficiencies, encouraging open space initiatives, and continuing to support our rich recreational opportunities in the Borough

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

My qualifications include my 6 years’ experience on the Council. Most of my time has been chairing the Public Safety committee. During my time we have hired a new Chief of Police, negotiated a long-term contract with the PBA, hired two new officers, promoted a new Chief and created a new position of Lieutenant. We also promoted a new Sergeant and hired two ‘class 3’ officers - one for the High School and one for Hilltop and Mountainview schools. As a previous small business owner, I bring leadership, fiscal common sense, people management experience, and an understanding of the services that are needed in our borough.
I have also led projects for “quality of life issues”, such as slowing traffic in town, improving pedestrian safety, and securing a grant for a generator for the Garabrant Center, which is used as a Warming and Cooling location during emergencies.
And, as Veterans’ issues are very important to me, I have instituted Veterans’ Day and Memorial Day celebrations, and am currently spearheading a project to highlight our “Hometown Heroes” by creating photo-banners that will be displayed on Main Street during certain times of the year.
Perhaps most top-of-mind these days is the terrible Pandemic. As Captain of the First Aid Squad, I marshalled our volunteers to respond to the many extra emergency calls that came about due to our residents needing help from the impact of the virus. I have personally responded to 173 calls (and counting). I ensured our dedicated members had enough Personal Protective Equipment, and that it was of high-quality. I worked with the Red Cross and the Health Department to plan blood drives, and also coordinated and participated in reaching out to our more-vulnerable senior population to ensure they had information and support.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the time you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

From my varied background in the Military, Corporate world, and as a small business owner, I bring experience in leadership, fiscal common sense, people management, and an understanding of the services that are needed in our Borough.