Elected Officials

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill proudly represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. 

After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1994, Congresswoman Sherrill spent almost 10 years on active duty in the United States Navy. She flew missions throughout Europe and the Middle East as a Sea King helicopter pilot, worked on the Battle Watch Floor in the European Theater during the Iraq invasion, and served as a Flag Aide to the Deputy Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Congresswoman Sherrill also served as a Russian policy officer and worked on the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy.  

Congresswoman Sherrill attended law school after leaving the Navy in 2003, earning a degree from Georgetown University. She worked as a lawyer and eventually joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. As an Outreach and Re-entry Coordinator, Congresswoman Sherrill developed programs to help prevent crime in the community. These programs developed trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve, and helped people leaving prison to gain employment, housing, and education in order to restart their lives. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Congresswoman Sherrill worked to keep our communities safe, prosecuting federal cases and advising law enforcement on investigations.  

Congresswoman Sherrill holds a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy, a Master’s degree in Global History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Law degree from Georgetown University. 

Congresswoman Sherrill sits on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the House Education and Labor Committee. 

Mayor’s Message 2021

I would like to thank my fellow committee members for appointing me as Mayor and working together, we will continue to keep the township moving forward. I would like to congratulate Stacey Ewald as Deputy Mayor, thank Celeste for coming back and welcome Ashley and Mark to the committee. I would also like to thank my family, my husband Brian and sons Colin and Ryan for their support and encouragement and all of you who have lent your support over the past two years. The New Year is always a time for reflection, gratitude and a hopeful look to the future. But before we move forward, please let's take a moment of silence to reflect on the pandemic that affected all of us including the loss of 37 people in our community as well as those who have battled or are battling the virus. . 

Thank you.

Mayor Tracy Ness

I am believe in working in a fiscally-responsible, nonpartisan, and community-engaging manner.

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We are in the lists of best schools and towns in New Jersey and the country. So much of this comes from the extraordinary community volunteer efforts – relentlessly striving for excellence and achieving it through collaboration across diverse viewpoints. The Township Committee should mirror this culture of collaboration that makes us such a desirable place to raise families. 

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The Township faces challenges that require thoughtful, respectful and factual discussions about our future.  We need  the Committee who can bring people together to do what is best for Chatham Township.  We need a sound, well-thought-out plan to address development, affordable housing, aging facilities  and revenue lost and the need for renewal. 

I look forward to continuing to putting my community leadership and business experience in the service of our residents.

Sincerely, 

Stacey Ewald

I grew up in Green Village, raised my family in Chatham Township and have played an active role in our community for many years. I was one of the first members of our Open Space Committee, our Tree Committee, I wrote the Twp Newsletter, was President of the Art League of the Chathams and currently an auxiliary member of the Chatham Emergency Squad. I am looking forward to continuing my service to the community as a member of the Township Committee.

Thank you,

Celeste Fondaco

I’d like to express my profound gratitude to all of the volunteers who make Chatham Borough the special community that it is: our Fire Fighters; our Emergency Squad personnel; the members of our various municipal Boards, Commissions, and Advisory Committees; and, of course, our library volunteers. We are grateful beyond words for your dedication and hard work during 2020, very often under trying circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the Council and I are immensely thankful for your willingness to step up to the plate once again in 2021. It is your steadfast and untiring dedication to this community that enables Chatham Borough to provide the extensive array of much-needed services that it does. Without you, many of these municipal services would either not be possible or would entail a hefty tax burden. Because of this, in my eyes you personify Chatham Borough and help make this the marvelously responsive and caring community that it is. For this reason, we thank you.

Last but by no means least, I wish to thank each and every Chatham Borough employee for your remarkable dedication and effort during the past extremely challenging year. Your uninterrupted focus during this unprecedented public health emergency is both laudable and inspiring. It is said that local government is where the “rubber hits the road” in our nation’s multitiered system of governance. As such, there was really no choice this past year but to continue with delivery of the Borough’s most basic and essential services. This applied to everything from access to safe drinking water, a functioning sewage system, regular trash and recycling pickups, and well-maintained municipal streets, to a fully effective police force and municipal administration. You understood and embraced this principle. And despite such challenges as having to learn to work from a remote location or managing your responsibilities under the threat of possible illness, you stepped up admirably. All of Chatham Borough owes you a debt of gratitude for your exemplary display of “grace under fire” in 2020. In such an historically demanding year, you did not skip a beat. As such, you too personify all that is good and admirable about Chatham Borough. For this reason, we thank you as well.

Thank you,

Mayor Thad Kobylarz

Since I declared my candidacy for Chatham Borough Council I have been asked time and again, “Why are you doing this?” Most of my friends and family members would rather have a root canal than run for office. At first, I found myself searching for the best way to express my reasons, but no answer ever felt completely right. Then, in early June, as I was walking our dog past the train trestle on Fairmount Avenue, I looked down on the ground beneath the mural that Mr. Hasegawa created with the Public Arts Council. Someone had written on the ground in chalk, “Show kindness.” I realized at that moment that THIS is why I am running for office.

Our country is so divided right now, and I want to do what I can to bring people together. The people who live in Chatham, for the most part, want the same things: a safe and welcoming community, excellent schools for our children, and a good quality of life for ourselves and our families. I believe our government can—and does—play a vital role in making Chatham not only a desirable place to live, but a community where the residents are invested in the well-being of their town. That’s where kindness comes in.

If we can show, from the top down, that our elected officials truly care about our residents, we will improve not only relations but results. I believe this starts with listening. The borough has instituted a new platform, “Planet Civic”, which is a great tool for communicating with residents. I say let’s go even further. 

Throughout my professional and personal life, my ability to communicate well with people has been a strength. When I interviewed with the CIA they believed, through my language skills and personal manner, that I would be skilled in fostering relationships and developing contacts for U.S. intelligence. When I was on Capitol Hill, my congressman touted my ability to calm agitated constituents and find answers to their issues. 

That kind of one-on-one personal connection with constituents cannot be underestimated. I have had powerful conversations with fellow residents while canvassing during the campaign, residents who’ve said no candidate or official had ever reached out to them personally. I think we can take a multi-layered approach for communicating with residents—through social media, the holding of office hours, and other more formal efforts to meet with them. Let’s listen to each other to understand what our residents’ needs truly are. In other words, let’s show kindness.

These days, each side of the political aisle is shrieking at the other with little cooperation or effective policymaking taking place. When I was growing up I respected my elected officials. That’s not happening today. I want to return bipartisan civility to our local government. I grew up a Republican, and honestly, the values I was raised with haven’t changed, although the rhetoric certainly has. We are in need of broader representation here in Chatham that reflects the true demographics of our town. That means having greater female representation, and, hopefully, a greater diversity of ideas on the Borough Council going forward. Let’s be the model of a town whose leaders can work together, across the aisle, to bring together ideas that are representative of all our residents; this will help ensure that our Council makes decisions that will truly benefit all of who live in this wonderful borough.

Thank you,
Council President Carolyn Dempsey

Chatham Borough is a special place. It has a friendly, small town feel with kids walking to school and families wandering around the farmers’ market on warm summer Saturdays. Broadway and other big city amenities are just a train ride away; a short drive in the other direction allows you to birdwatch in the Great Swamp.  As with any community, though, it has challenges.  Municipal costs continue to rise, and taxes are already high throughout New Jersey.  Somehow, our downtown has become increasingly run-down. We have new developments coming and an affordable housing requirement to meet, and residents I speak to are fearful that these could have a negative effect on traffic and schools, and erode the sense of community. 

I have dedicated my career to helping local governments better serve their communities, and with my kids (almost) grown up, I am excited to continue to do this for Chatham Borough as a member of the council.  

I am committed to helping Chatham Borough maintain its character and livability in a fiscally responsible manner while making our downtown more vibrant.   We must look at our declining Main Street as well as proposed redevelopments with an eye to quality of life, and demand that developers address concerns related to traffic, aesthetics, and sustainability.  

Governing is hard.  With business, there is one primary goal – profitability.  In government, there are competing objectives and differing views that must be heard.  To be successful in government, you must be accountable to residents, ensuring that they feel heard and understood. And you must work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds with strong personalities and sometimes conflicting goals.  I have done this all over the country, and I know I can continue to do that for Chatham Borough.

Thank you,

Jocelyn Mathiasen 

Like so many of you who made the city-to-suburb migration, my husband and I moved from Manhattan, to Hoboken, and ultimately chose Chatham Borough as the place we wanted to put down roots. Chatham was an easy choice for its commute and great schools. Most of all, we fell in love with Chatham’s small-town charm. We moved to Chatham Borough in 2013 and are raising our two young children. Our long-term goal is to retire here.

At this time in particular, Chatham Borough is at an inflection point. We need to redevelop both Post Office Plaza and River Road. We need to do our part in protecting our water supply and air quality. We need to introduce traffic calming measures and make our streets safe for drivers and pedestrians. We also need to address senior living and make Chatham an affordable place to live for young people and after retirement. We are so fortunate to have so many neighbors volunteering their time to make our community better.  

In the coming months, the Council will be negotiating a redevelopment contract with the Post Office Plaza redeveloper, negotiate shared services contracts, and tackle Affordable Housing mandates. I want to continue to help Chatham build a sustainable, thriving future. Our communities are strongest when we all get involved. I believe we can make substantial and valuable improvements while preserving and enhancing those qualities that so many of us value – the sense of community, the schools, and Chatham’s small-town charm.

Yours,
Irene Treloar

I was attracted to Chatham’s charm, especially its downtown and believe Chatham is a community of the people. 

I love Chatham, but it is at a crossroads – it needs to find ways to keep up with growing expenses without overburdening its residents. I look forward to continuing to help envision Chatham’s future, and to set it on a path to achieving it. 

I am committed to always listening to all sides of an issue.  I will research the issue, draw on expert knowledge if needed, and seek to understand all points of view before I draw any conclusions.  I will continue treat the Chatham Borough budgetary decisions as though it is my own money, because in a small part, it is.  I will strive to find economical and sustainable ways for Chatham to continue providing exceptional services while controlling costs and taxes.

I am still honored to serve the residents of Chatham as I was the day I was sworn in.
Thank you,

Karen Koronkiewicz

I’ve had the honor and privilege of serving you for 9 years and I am grateful to to continue serving you.

I’m a Center Street resident having moved to Chatham in 1995 for the very same things that attracted you here- a charming town, an accepting community and it’s “small town America” ambience.

My goal is to help our Mayor take Chatham into its next phase of being an innovation technology hub without forgetting our past and keeping this community we love the same town that drew me here and will draw future generations here.

I also want to help our seniors become better engaged and able to remain in Chatham. The national average is 17/5% seniors, Chatham sits at just over 10%. Simultaneously, we need to keep our young here to have a vibrant community.

Your problems are my problems whether they be the post office, a PPP loan, a broken streetlight, I treat each person with care, compassion, dignity and respect. It’s an important lesson taught to me by my parents.

We are in a unique world battling a pandemic, an ongoing recession, unemployment, food insecurity and demands for social justice. 

Together, we’ll meet these challenges and we’ll come out much better on the other side. We’ll live up to our forefathers ideal of forming a “more perfect union”. 

Thank you,

Len Resto

What brought my wife and I to Chatham was the New England village feel that it offered.

I do support growth in our downtown, however, not at the expense of losing this charm.

As an example of this belief, I had been commissioned to design the Dunkin Donuts on Main Street over ten years ago. While Dunkin Donuts Corporation insisted that the building be their prototype image, I said no. I instead designed a Colonial building that blends in well with its context.

I most recently designed the new French pastry shop on Main Street “Fleur de Sel”. This aesthetic I feel best exemplifies how growth can take place tastefully.

I do stand for a “New Chatham”, one where our local merchants can thrive and our residents can reap the rewards in quiet harmony.

Thank you,

Frank Truilo