Council Candidates: Ward 3

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. In Morristown, there are four spots open on the Town Council, one for each ward. In Ward 3, Democrat Stefan Armington is running against Republican Ed Ramirez, who was a write-in candidate following the primary elections earlier this year.

Patch asked each candidate to fill out the questionaire below.

Name: Stefan Armington (Democrat)
Age: 45
Occupation: Environmental and Transportation Planner
Previous elected or appointed positions (including previous terms in sought position, if applicable): Morristown Planning Board Member 2010 – present, Morristown Environmental Commission Member 2006 – 2009, 2011 - present
Any other current elected or appointed positions:
Other community associations: Cutler Park Neighborhood Association
How long have you lived in town? 15 years

What do you see as the most pressing issues in a coming term, and what would you do about them?

Traffic on Speedwell Avenue and Neighborhood Traffic

Traffic circulation on Speedwell Avenue and Early Street is significantly compromised during the morning and evening peak commuter periods. This condition will likely deteriorate even further with the construction of the , if no improvements are made. Furthermore, much of this traffic impacts neighborhoods as cars cut through neighborhood streets on their way out of town. While it is unlikely that we can reduce the number of cars passing through Morristown, there is a lot that can be done to manage speeds, reduce accidents and improve pedestrian circulation and safety.

I will work with the Administration to hold public meetings to evaluate the costs, benefits and consequences of various traffic improvement options for Speedwell Avenue traffic, balancing the needs of motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians and the effect on taxpayers and the business community of undertaking a large construction project in the center of a diverse business district.

I will also work with my fellow councilpersons to develop an official "Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program" that empowers community groups to work with their Council representatives and Town engineers to identify the best ways to slow down speeding cut-through traffic, improve pedestrian connectivity across major roadways and encourage traffic to follow neighborhood traffic regulations.

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know? 

I have a masters degree in City Planning, I’m a licensed professional planner, and I have 15 years of professional planning experience conducting traffic plans, bicycle and pedestrian plans, noise and air quality analyses and environmental assessments for municipal and state projects. I offer the Town my professional services as a volunteer, at no cost.

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Name: Ed Ramirez (Republican)
Age: 64
Occupation: Contract and Grants Administrator for NJ Meadowlands Commission
Previous elected or appointed positions (including previous terms in sought position, if applicable): Current: Third term Commissioner, Morristown Housing Authority; Former Commissioner for the NJ Economic Development Authority; Former Commissioner for the Vail Mansion Redevelopment Commission
Any other current elected or appointed positions: None
Other community associations: Parishioner, St. Margaret’s Catholic Church; Member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles  
How long have you lived in town? 30 years

What do you see as the most pressing issues in a coming term, and what would you do about them?

Taxes and crime are high priorities and of major concern to me and to those residents I have talked with. Both deserve to be addressed with great haste. My tax plan is to go back to the basics–cut out the frills until we have a more stable tax base. I will find opportunities to share services with other municipalities and the County of Morris to reduce costs.     

I will be tough on crime. It is the primary function of a Town government to provide a safe environment for its residents. I will work with the Police Chief to find ways to improve our overall patrol effort. This may require an increase in street patrol but we must provide a safe environment. I will hold seminars to teach residents on how to protect and keep homes safe with the use of additional lighting and to have secure entrances and windows.

However, I believe that the will be the big issue over the next three years. The need to provide assurance that Morristown will be enriched by this development and that we are not left “holding the bag” should the developer walk away at any point in the project. I will be the people's watchdog in this respect and will hold the developers “feet to the fire”  to assure that Morristown gets what is necessary to make this redevelopment a success for our town and our citizens.

The need to make sure that traffic conditions are addressed and solutions are used that will provide optimal flow with minimum congestion are paramount to the success of the Speedwell Redevelopment Project. Any adverse conditions arising from this project will have a negative effect on the entire town.

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know? I have blue eyes. Seriously, most may not know how passionate I am about the Town of Morristown and its well being.