2017 Archives
Victory for Russ and Anthony!
We are so proud of Russ Huegel and Anthony Carter for winning seats on the Fanwood Council in 2017, Russ for his fourth term, Anthony for his first. Many thanks to all our voters who turned out and gave them an overwhelming win.
Official returns, as certified by the Union County Clerk:
Council
Russ Huegel (D): 1734
Anthony Carter (D): 1681
Brian Walter (R): 922
Board of Education
Amy Boroff (D): 433 write-in votes
More photos from the victory party
Democratic Forum at Forest Road Park
Fanwood Council candidates Russ Huegel and Anthony "Coach" Carter and Mayor Colleen Mahr welcomed aides to U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman to Forest Road Park Sunday, October 1st, for a conversation about current issues of interest to our citizens.
Rep. Coleman had been scheduled to headline the event but had to attend to a sudden death in her family. Her chief of staff, James Gee, and district office manager, Kari Osmond, updated an audience of about 100 citizens on issues including health care and tax reform, both of which have been mired in Republican political drama on Capitol Hill. There was also an extended conversation on the ongoing delay in veterans receiving benefits sparked by a question by a Vietnam veteran from Scotch Plains who has been fighting with the VA to get benefits he believes he is entitled to. Rep. Coleman is one of many co-sponsors of a bill to free up money destined for veterans.
Councilman Huegel and Council candidate Carter made appeals for votes in the November 7th election. Mayor Mahr also did a pitch for Fanwood's candidate for school board, Amy Boroff, who is waging a write-in campaign as Fanwood's only school board candidate. Mayor Mahr also urged everyone to vote YES on the ballot question asking voters to approve the state's borrowing of $125 million to repair libraries across the state including the Fanwood Memorial Library.
Family Fundraiser Oct. 22nd, 2017
The Fanwood Grille was packed on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 22nd, with supporters of Council candidates Russ Huegel and Anthony Carter. Mayor Colleen Mahr and the Fanwood Democratic Committee hosted the $25 per person fundraiser, which also welcomed residents who just wanted to show up and chat with candidates without donating. Also present were the rest of the Fanwood Borough Council and many of the County Freeholders and Hillside Mayor Angela Garretson who is running for Freeholder. Food was provided by Paul Watterson and John Mooney, owners of the Fanwood Grille. Thanks to all who showed up and pledged their support and to the many other supporters across Fanwood whose vote we value on November 7th.
Mayor Colleen Mahr Named Among NJBIZ Best 50 Women in Business for 2017
Story by John Mooney, TapInto.
FANWOOD, NJ -- Mayor Colleen Mahr has been named among the Best 50 Women in BusinessAwards for 2017 by NJBIZ.
Mahr, who earns $1 annually to serve as Mayor of Fanwood, is Director of Business Development for DMR Architects, based in Hasbrouck Heights. She joined the firm in June 2015 to enhance DMR’s relationships in the public sector. Mahr has worked in economic development for almost 30 years since 1989 starting in the City of Jersey City. While in Jersey City, she managed the establishment of the city’s first charter school, the Golden Door Charter School.
She spent 1999-2003 working as Director of Development for Mosaica Education, a private company promoting charter schools throughout the U.S. Her project accomplishments included strategic plan development, site selection, construction oversight, and liaison work among the School Board of Trustees, Mosaica Education, and local government officials.
From March 2014 – June 2015, she worked for the County of Union as the Head of the Division of Strategic Planning and Intergovernmental Relations, where she oversaw the Bureau of Transportation Planning and Bureau of Planning and Economic Development. In this role, Mahr worked with municipalities in Union County to retain and create jobs, and seek state and federal funds for economic growth.
"I am very honored and humbled to be recognized by NJBiz for the work I do in both the private and public sector," said Mayor Mahr in an interview with TAPintoSPF. "I consider myself very lucky to be among such successful women and the accomplishments that each makes to this great state of New Jersey."
Mahr is currently serving the second year of her unprecedented fourth term as mayor. Of 565 municipalities statewide, she is one of only 73 women mayors in New Jersey and one of the longest serving. She has overseen the transformation of downtown Fanwood, starting in 2004 and continuing today with the two final parcels slated for construction in 2017. Her leadership on this front earned the Fanwood a "Smart Growth Award" in 2014 and recognition in both editions of the New Jersey Handbook on Redevelopment. This success was also recognized in a May 2014 “Living In Fanwood” feature of The New York Times.
As a mother of three boys ages 14 and under, she proudly shares her story as she serves as a role model for other women.
Huegel/Carter Fundraiser
Monday, May 15, 2017, Sheelen's Crossing, Fanwood.
Dedication of New FD Pumper
Russ and Anthony joined Mayor Colleen Mahr and Rev. David Jahnke at the dedication of the Fanwood Fire Department's new Engine 7, a 2017 KME 1500 gallon-per-minute pumper. The pumper was purchased by the Borough of Fanwood at a cost of approximately $460,000. Council members Tom Kranz and Kathy Mitchell were also on hand.