Meet Wayne Council Candidate Katherine McEwan

WAYNE, NJ — With Election Day approaching, Patch is putting together a series of candidate profiles so readers can learn more about who’s on their ballot.

Katherine McEwan is a small business owner and former Wayne Environmental Commission member who is seeking a seat on Wayne's council.

Wayne Patch asked candidates to share some information about themselves, and asked identical questions to all candidates.

See McEwan's responses below:

• Full name: Katherine L. McEwan
• Age: old enough to vote
• Town of residence: Wayne, New Jersey
• Position sought: Councilmember at Large, Wayne Township Town Council
• Party affiliation: Independent
• Family: Married, two children
• Education: Bachelors degree, New School University, New York City
• Occupation: Small Business Owner and stay-at-home parent
• Previous or current elected/appointed office (if applicable): no current office held, served on Wayne Environmental Commission 2018-2023

1. Why are you running for this position?

I see changes happening in our community and believe that I can help shape our future for the better.

2. What do you believe to be the most pressing issue in the community, and what do you intend to do about it if elected?

It's difficult to choose one. There are several pressing issues including affordable housing, environmental damage, expanding school system, stressed infrastructure, and rising taxes. I believe that lessening the tax burden on residents (residents pay 71.99% of our tax bill according to the town budget) and getting more businesses to come to Wayne would benefit everyone. Smarter development and land use would help solve a lot of complaints I hear from residents. We need to work smarter, not harder.

3. What qualifications and qualities do you possess that make you best suited for the position?

I have no special interests. My community, neighbors, and friends are my special interest. I believe that we all need a stronger voice when it comes to the direction the town is headed-I think I can be an effective voice. I want to get our community more engaged on what our leadership is doing.

4. Overdevelopment has been a growing concern throughout NJ. How do you intend to address it in your community?

Delaying, denying, and litigating are not good strategies to deal with state mandates coming from the courts. Employ every strategy possible, including PILOT programs, finishing a new Master Plan to assess our land usage, and negotiating with developers and builders. We also need to work with the school system to plan for the bump in enrollment. I definitely would not wait for 10 years to do nothing about our affordable housing responsibilities and just hope it goes away; that is no strategy at all. There is a smart and responsible way to meet our obligation.

5. If you are running against an incumbent, where do you believe they’re lacking in serving the community? If you are an incumbent, what areas, if any, do you think you could improve upon in terms of public service?

I'm not going to criticize members of the council. I think that our local government should be non-partisan so I would encourage all who serve the community to listen to your constituents and truly serve them, not be beholden to party politics. We have problems right here that need solving.

6. In a few words, what is your favorite thing about your community?

The people, my friends and neighbors all over town. They are the lifeblood of our community. Just like as residents, we help and respond to each other when someone is in need or has a crisis. We need to come together now with our leadership in a way that has never been done before.

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Election Day is Nov. 4.

If you are running for council in Wayne and did not receive a candidate profile request email, please reach out to jack.slocum@patch.com.