Mendham’s Neibart Puts Hat In Ring For County Commissioner Race

MENDHAM, NJ — Mendham Township Committee Member and former Mayor Sarah Neibart is aiming for a seat on the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, New Jersey Globe reports.

Neibart, 29, who has not yet responded to a request for comment from Patch on her candidacy, plans to enter the Republican primary in June for the board, with three seats up for grabs in 2022, including Kathryn A. DeFillippo’s, who is not running again.

According to the Globe, the other two incumbents, Douglas Cabana and Thomas Mastrangelo, are running again with Melissa Florance-Lynch, a councilwoman from Pequannock.

Having served as Mayor for the past two years, Neibart was re-elected in 2021 and sworn in again to her seat in January to the Mendham Township Committee, her term expiring on Dec. 31, 2024.

Her running mate, Nick Monaghan, 2021’s deputy mayor, is the township’s new mayor, with Tom Baio 2022’s deputy mayor.

“As a County Commissioner I will bring the perspective of a new generation and a proven record of leadership and community service,” Neibart told the Globe.

“As a lifelong Morris County resident and active community first responder, I could not be more excited to run for Morris County Commissioner,” she continued, saying during her tenure with the township, she’s never voted on tax increases.

During her two years as mayor, Neibart added, Mendham Township taxes didn't increase and were cut.

In her final Mayor's Message of 2021, Neibart recognized the community for its strength during the pandemic challenges.

"I have witnessed a sense of community from our residents and community members that surpassed any expectation I have ever had," Neibart wrote. "Everyone in our community put aside their differences and focused on one thing — helping each other."

"It was truly extraordinary," she continued.

RELATED: 'Sense Of Community Surpassed Expectations:' Mendham Mayor

In her message, she also highlighted some of the other township accomplishments during her tenure, among them, more families moving in, the processing of more building permits than in past years, approval of a new Master Plan, applications with the Planning Board and Township Committee that lead to "smart growth," the opening of the Historic Park at Pitney Farm, the groundbreaking for the township's new police station and plans underway for infrastructure improvements to the town hall and library.

According to Neibart’s bio on her campaign page from her run with Monaghan, she works as a “Republican strategist and advisor to elected officials, candidates and political organizations.”

She is additionally the Founder and President of Citizens for Accountable Taxation (CAT), an organization that educates New Jerseyans on its property taxes and the problems they pose.

While a member of the Township Committee, Neibart created and has been leading the Ad Hoc Shared Services Committee.

Neibart also serves as a Board Member on the Spring Street Community Development Corporation, an organization that has prepared more than 100,000 meals for those in-need and mentored 400 kids throughout Morris County, since 2011.

Neibart was one of Insider NJ’s “2021 Insider 100: Millennials.” Ranking 77 on the list, the publication wrote that Neibart “could be a formidable candidate for higher office.”

When New Jersey Senator Anthony Bucco, R. 25th Dist, had vacated his Assembly Seat in 2019, to fill his late father's Senate seat, Neibart was one of six Republicans in the running for Bucco's Assembly spot, with Aura Dunn of Mendham Borough, now with the district as its Assemblywoman, appointed to take the seat during a special convention.

This story contains reporting from Katie Kausch.

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