Westfield Ward 1 General Election 2025: Liz Rampolla

NEW JERSEY - The general election season is in full swing in the Garden State and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before Nov. 4.

Editor's Note: Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will be published between now and the general election. Contact edward.callahan@patch.com with any questions regarding coverage.

Name: Liz Rampolla (Lentis)

Age: 41

Town of Residence: Westfield, NJ

Position Sought: Councilwoman, Ward 1

Party Affiliation: Republican

Family: 6th-grade daughter, 2nd-grade son, and our beloved dog Bruty

Education: B.S. in International Business and Marketing, Villanova University; M.B.A. in Management and Leadership, Boston College

Occupation: Partner at BIP Consulting, SVP, Commercial Growth Partner

Why are you seeking office?

I’m running because I love Westfield and I’m concerned about the direction we’re headed, especially when it comes to overdevelopment and transparency. Growth is important, but it must be smart, balanced, and rooted in what’s best for residents.

Overdevelopment without proper infrastructure planning will worsen traffic, flooding, parking, and even emergency response times. Transparency and two-way communication are also essential - residents deserve to know what’s happening and why.

I’ve been inspired by Todd Saunders’ (Current Councilman for Ward 1) clear, consistent, and transparent leadership style, which is a model I deeply respect. I want to help further that same level of openness and accountability.

What's your reaction when you see businesses, etc. vacate downtown? What do you look for in new tenants?

As an entrepreneur at heart, it’s always heartbreaking to see a local business close - these are people who invested their dreams and savings into our town. We need to do more to support them.

A thriving downtown depends on community support and leadership that champions small business, not just large developers. Westfield’s charm, safety, and walkability are what attract both residents and visitors - we should build on that.

I also believe tax breaks should not favor multinational developers, as we saw with the One Westfield Place deal, while long-standing local businesses struggle to stay afloat.

I’d like to see a mix of diverse, vibrant businesses that bring people downtown (i.e. restaurants, boutiques, family-friendly spaces) keeping Westfield a place people love to visit and live in.

What’s your approach to overdevelopment concerns in Westfield?

Development should enhance Westfield’s character, not overwhelm it. Unfortunately, projects like One Westfield Place were pushed through without proper transparency or competition, including a no-bid process and a PILOT agreement that lets developers bypass contributing to our schools.

That’s not fair to taxpayers.

We’re facing real infrastructure challenges… from traffic and parking to flooding and field shortages, yet these issues are being sidelined while large-scale projects advance. A Republican-led council would restore balance, ensuring development is smart, measured, and accountable to residents.

We would hold developers to milestones and, if missed, reassess or rescope projects to protect our town’s interests.

Talk to me about public safety, whether it's your idea on how to help prevent vehicles being broken into around Westfield, or some other concern, where do you see an opportunity to improve?

Our police officers and first responders are on the front line every day. They deserve our full support, respect, and resources.

We must continue investing in training, equipment, and collaboration to keep Westfield one of the safest towns in New Jersey.

As a mom of two young kids, I’m also deeply concerned about road and bike safety, especially following the tragic e-bike accident. I’m encouraged to see bipartisan attention on this issue and believe we must continue to strengthen enforcement and education to protect pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers alike.

Public safety also ties directly to development - more high-density projects mean more congestion and slower emergency response times. These impacts need to be considered in every planning decision.

What do you believe is the most important concern to address when implementing a project such as the multi-million dollar proposed improvements to Houlihan-Sid Fay Fields?

I’m excited about the planned improvements - from my perspective, they’re long overdue and necessary for safety and recreation. But equally important is public transparency and input.

Residents should be kept informed and have a voice in how projects like this are executed.
It’s encouraging that funding includes partnership contributions, showing that collaboration can work.

When we bring the community, organizations, and town leadership together, we can improve our fields and facilities without overburdening taxpayers.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have great respect for my opponent; we’re both working moms with experience in the life sciences, and I appreciate her dedication to public service.

My concern isn’t with her personally, but rather with the direction of the current administration, which has advanced large-scale developments without the level of transparency or accountability that residents deserve.

Professionally, I’ve built a successful career in marketing and business development, where strong communication, negotiation, and collaboration are key. I’m also deeply involved in our schools and community, and I’m known for stepping up and getting things done.

I would bring that same energy, common sense, and balanced perspective to the Town Council.

What’s a motto you live by?

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Politics can be divisive, but Westfield isn’t Washington; we’re neighbors first. I believe in leading with kindness, empathy, and respect, and in finding common ground even when we disagree.

Everyone is fighting their own battles, and compassion should guide how we make decisions for our community. My goal is to bring people together, not divide us.

What does it mean to you to represent Westfield?

It would be an incredible honor to represent the town I’ve called home for 13 years. I fell in love with Westfield’s sense of community, its charm, and its people.

Serving as Councilwoman would allow me to give back to the place that has given so much to my family, and to be a voice for Ward 1 residents who care deeply about preserving what makes Westfield special - while helping it grow responsibly.

I would be proud to work collaboratively with the talented leaders on Council to ensure that Westfield continues to thrive for generations to come.

Union County Votes 2025: Your Guide To Submitting A Ballot