Election 2022: Mark D. Taylor, Red Bank Borough Council

RED BANK, NJ — Republican Mark D. Taylor is one of four candidates seeking two full-term seats on the Red Bank Borough Council in the Nov. 8 general election.

In these profiles, candidates provide voters with background about themselves and their positions on the issues. Patch will publish individual profiles leading to the election.

Taylor said the goals of his campaign are twofold: First, to ensure passage of a vote to change the Red Bank form of government to a nonpartisan form. Second, he hopes his election and that of his running mate Jonathan Penney would restore "order and dignity" to the Borough Council that has seen dissension among its Democratic members.

Read more about candidate Mark D. Taylor:

Name: Mark D. Taylor

Age: 39

Town of residence: Red Bank

Position sought: Red Bank Council

Are you an incumbent or previous governing member? Yes, I previously was elected to the Council and served from 2016-2018. I was also recently elected to serve on the Charter Study Commission this past year.

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: My wife, Ashley, and I have a 4-year old son and just welcomed our daughter on Sept. 22. We also have two rescue dogs. My parents have lived in Red Bank since 1975 and my sister, her husband and three children also live in town.

Education: B.A. and a B.S. from the University of Scranton and a J.D. from Widener University School of Law

Occupation: Civil litigation attorney in Monmouth County

Name the top issues currently facing your town and how you plan to address them:

• This is a unique election and our campaign platform reflects this. Primarily, there is a referendum on the ballot this year that will fundamentally alter Red Bank and only our campaign supports the Vote YES! effort to bring nonpartisan elections to Red Bank starting in 2023.
• The second focus of our campaign is to restore some order and dignity to the council. Recent years have seen a level of division and rancor we've never seen before, ironically from within the same party. Our goal is to help steward Red Bank out of this divisive era through calm and steady leadership as we transition to the new form of government in July 2023.

Identify one or more specific goals you have to enhance life in your town:

It's hard to underscore just how divisive the current council has made things and how they've made it nearly impossible to govern. Red Bank has lost talented employees and others have been unceremoniously fired as part of this political bloodletting.

Sadly, just restoring honor and a sense of leadership is my goal for this six month interim period as we usher in the new government.

What in your experience or background prepares you for election to office:

As a lifelong resident of Red Bank, I have developed relationships with a broad spectrum of residents, business owners and other stakeholders who want to see Red Bank be the best version of itself.

Importantly, I previously served as a councilman so I know how to govern effectively and with respect. In 2021, I was again elected, this time as a member of the Charter Study Commission where I served as vice chair. The Commission recommended the change to nonpartisan elections which forms the basis of the public question on the November ballot.

Candidates for Red Bank Mayor and Borough Council are:

Mayor (Full Term, Vote for One)

• William J. Portman (Democrat)
• No Nomination Made for the Republican party

Borough Council (Full Term, Vote for Two)

• Mark D. Taylor (Republican)
• Jonathan Penney (Republican)
• Angela Mirandi (Democrat)
• John L. Jackson (Democrat)