Westfield Ward 4 General Election 2025: Drew Pecker

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: Drew Pecker

Age: N/A

Town of residence: Westfield

Position sought: Councilman

Party affiliation: Democrat

Family: N/A

Education: Lehigh University, Bachelor of Science

Occupation: Consultant

Previous or current elected or appointed office: N/A

Why are you seeking office?

I’m a third-generation Westfielder and proud graduate of Westfield High School. I’ve spent nearly a decade volunteering in local government, including the past four years here in Westfield.

I love this town and want to help ensure it remains as great a place for my children as it was for me.

What’s your reaction when you see businesses vacate downtown? What do you look for in new tenants?

It’s always disappointing to see a business close in Westfield, whether downtown or elsewhere. Ideally, new tenants are local, community-minded, and offer something unique, whether a product, service, or experience, that adds to our town’s variety and vibrancy.

What’s your approach to overdevelopment concerns in Westfield?

We’re at the tail end of a period of significant development, and now is the right time to pause and assess what’s already been built or approved.

Residents are rightly concerned about traffic, parking, and preserving our small-town charm. My goal is to use every available tool to manage those challenges, hold developers accountable, and make sure every project meets Westfield’s high standards.

Specific to Ward 4, apartment complexes and OWP get all the press, but it’s important to keep in mind the more insidious threat of lax subdivisions, variances, and building code violations. These are the things people tend not to worry about until it happens on their street, when it suddenly becomes a big issue.

Talk about public safety, whether it’s preventing vehicle break-ins or other concerns, where do you see opportunities to improve?

The best way to keep Westfield safe is by continuing to support our Police Department with the resources and funding they need. We’re fortunate to have an outstanding police force and an administration that prioritizes public safety.

We need to keep that momentum going and always be forward-thinking about how we can keep Westfield safe.

What do you believe is most important when implementing a project such as the proposed Houlihan–Sid Fay Fields improvements?

Every project brings unique challenges, so it’s important not to generalize. For Houlihan–Sid Fay, my main concern is traffic and quality-of-life impacts during construction.

The site sits at the crossroads of two major roads into town and near residential neighborhoods, so mitigating construction impacts must be a top priority.

What are the key differences between you and the other candidates?

The biggest differences are my experience, skillset, and openness. I’ve spent nearly a decade volunteering in local government, about half of that here in Westfield, so I already understand how the Town Council operates and what challenges it faces.

Professionally, I work as a consultant managing budgets, vendor analysis, and projects; the same kind of work that helps local government run effectively. It’s a natural fit.

In terms of policy, I’m transparent. I’m always happy to discuss what I think is best for Westfield, whether the policies come from the county, state, or federal level.

What accomplishments in your past show you can handle this job?

I first got involved in local government by serving on a community board in New York City for the East Side Coastal Resiliency project, a multi-billion-dollar effort to redesign East River Park for flood protection and quality-of-life improvements. I worked directly with residents to make sure their concerns were heard, and many of their ideas made it into the final plan, improving the lives of thousands.

That experience taught me the value of listening to residents and ensuring their voices reach the decision-makers.

Here in Westfield, I’ve served on the Investment Advisory Council for the past four years. We function as an internal consulting group for the town, tackling practical issues like whether the police should buy or lease vehicles, evaluating the feasibility of bringing back the farmers market, and exploring affordable ways for homeowners to finance sidewalk repairs.

Working on these kinds of bread-and-butter issues has been great preparation for serving on the Town Council.

What’s a motto you live by?

Try to leave the world better than you found it.

What does it mean to you to represent Westfield?

It means exactly what it sounds like: making sure every resident in town has a voice and is heard.

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