Election Profile: Jacqueline Sturdivan For Red Bank Council

RED BANK, NJ — Two seats are open on the Red Bank Borough Council and three candidates are running in the upcoming Nov. 2 election.

Incumbent Kate L. Triggiano, fellow Democrat Jacqueline Sturdivan and independent candidate Suzanne Viscomi are all vying for the two seats.

Newcomer Sturdivan is a corporate strategy, product development and leadership development executive specializing in helping companies capitalize on new market opportunities.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in mathematics and History from Boston College, an M.S. degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

READ MORE: Red Bank 2021 Election: Who's Running, All The Ways To Vote

Are you running for local office in 2021? Contact Catarina Moura at catarina.moura@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking office to help my neighbors. I’d like to foster more civility on council as we have watched that erode over the past three years. I bring a host of professional achievements and business acumen to the table. A driving force in my decision to run for Council has been my growing concerns about our rapid development and its impact on our aging infrastructure. I believe this requires a serious review of our already overstressed systems. Once elected, I will focus on understanding our limits and finding and implementing sustainable solutions to grow our capacity.
I have also created a 10 point pledge to Red Bank residents which can be seen at here.

Why should you be elected over other candidates?

I bring a long history of professional achievement to the table. I have worked in both the telecom and education/EdTech industries. My expertise in strategy, product development, diversity, equity, and inclusion will benefit the multicultural community we dwell in as well as our staff in Borough Hall. I will also bring private sector success and efficiency to local government, while promoting teamwork and encouraging Individual contributions and innovation to improve Services for all Red Bank Residents and Businesses.

What is the most important issue facing the Red Bank community and what are you planning to do about it?

I have stated in my 10 point pledge to Red Bank residents, publicly, that I will work to control overdevelopment, restore the Senior Center for our most vulnerable residents and commission a strategic plan and a vision plan for the future of Red Bank.

What are other important issues you are running on?

Eliminating spot zoning and fostering historic preservation rules to keep Red Bank, Red Bank.

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

I have managed corporate budgets and profit and loss between $24 million and $1.5 billion during my career. I served as a corporate executive for the past 20 years in the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. I am a skilled team leader who is comfortable working across the aisle and an eager team player who knows the best way to succeed is through collaboration and cooperation.