Thank you to everyone that stopped by Llewelynn Parq on Wednesday to officially kick off my campaign for Mayor. It was great to be with friends, family, and supporters, talking about the future of West Orange.
And a special thanks to all of the regular folks who happened to be up front at the bar – and who indulged me for a speech. I didn’t expect the place to be so packed out on a Wednesday evening!
Here’s an abbreviated version of my remarks:
I’m not from West Orange, but this is our home.
My parents moved from Ohio to New Jersey just before I was born, and they put down roots in a town where they knew my sister and I would get a good education. When my wife and I were looking for a place to call home, we wanted a) a place where our daughter could get a good education, b) a place where our family would fit in and feel welcomed, c) a place that was close to work for both of us, and d) a place that we could afford on two teachers’ salaries.
West Orange checked off everyone of those boxes. We moved in, and we’ve grown to love it more every day.
The school community exceeded our expectations. Having a network of hiking trails at my front door is amazing. And there are plenty of local establishments – like Llewellyn Parq – where we can go to have a great time.
West Orange is full of potential. But these days it feels like much of it is being squandered.
Downtown redevelopment is stalled. Our budget is always late and the town carries an incredible amount of debt. We own a golf course, but Rock Spring could be so much more. In the midst of it all, our Mayor and Council seem more preoccupied with fighting each other than with solving these problems.
We need an experienced leader that can bring people together and push West Orange to reach that potential.
Let me tell you about my past and my experience.
I started as a classroom teacher, working for twelve years at East Orange Campus High School. I’ve been a union leader and negotiator, and I understand labor relations. I have a foundation in policy and I’ve built relationships throughout Essex County and throughout the state.
And most importantly, I’m an experienced leader. I was a leader in my union in East Orange, with the Young Dems, and with New Leaders Council. For the past five years, I’ve served on the West Orange Board of Education – and I’ve been the President for four of them.
We have a record to be proud of. Investing in our buildings. Phasing in universal pre-k. Focusing on academics in the middle schools. Throughout it all, we’ve cultivated a culture of working together and respecting one another. Even when we disagree, we find a way to move forward.
Our biggest decision during my time on the board: hiring Mr. Moore. After a national search for a new Superintendent, he stood out as the best choice. I’m proud to have been his partner from the beginning of his tenure. And I’ll continue to be his partner in town hall.
It’s time for us to chart a new course for West Orange. What does that look like?
- A Mayor and Council who work together instead of bickering with one another.
- A budget that’s done on time and balances municipal services with affordability.
- A reduced reliance on debt to avoid making hard decisions.
- A full time planner that can implement a coherent vision for downtown redevelopment and affordable housing.
- Paying attention to and making progress on our Complete Streets plan.
Those are the big ticket items. But there are smaller quality of life issues that we can also address that don’t require huge investments.
- Adjusting traffic patterns to make our streets safer for students and other pedestrians.
- Adjusting parking regulations so that residents have a place to park near their homes.
- Supporting our local businesses and finding ways to make their lives easier – not harder.
- Promoting civic pride and volunteerism to clean up litter throughout town.
It’s also a town that lives up to our image – a place where every resident feels welcome, safe, and seen. Earlier this month, a resident reached out to me to describe the trouble he’s had organizing a Pride celebration in town. He was told they couldn’t raise a Pride flag at town hall. Then he noticed a giant Irish flag hanging from the municipal building.
We can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Pride month, Haitian Flag Day … all of it.
That’s the vision, and the next seven months are about making it a reality. I’ve already run every street, and I’ll be back through the neighborhoods to knock on doors and talk to residents. Make a contribution if you can or get in touch if you want to volunteer.
But come November, remember that experience plus leadership equals progress. That’s the winning formula for West Orange. And that’s why I’m asking you to vote Brian Rock for Mayor of West Orange.
