Rowland and McHugh '23

Morris County has updated the vote totals on its website with the addition of the provisional ballots and vote-by-mail ballots that came in after Election Day. The totals show a 200-plus vote margin for Team Blue! Marty and Jen released the following statement:

We thank the voters of Chatham Township for the gracious and bipartisan support we received in our election to the Township Committee. A special thank you goes to the many volunteers, donors, fundraisers, and endorsers who helped us get our message out. We are proud of the campaign that we ran and the collaborative spirit that helped us get over the finish line.
We are ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work for the Township. We invite all residents to engage with us to build upon the great conversations that started during the campaign with our neighbors, the Township administration, the police, and others to give us a clear path to reinvigorate volunteerism, bolster inclusion, enhance government transparency, and enable more resident participation. We welcome your input so please never hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to January to officially begin working with our fellow members of the Committee -- Stacey Ewald, Mike Choi and Mark Lois -- as well as our top-notch administration and hardworking employees, to help make the Township as wonderful a hometown for the next generation as it has been for ours.
Thank you for your trust.

Jen Rowland and Marty McHugh
Chatham Township Committee Members-Elect

The festival of Diwali marks the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. May this Diwali bring fresh hope, brighter days, and new dreams into all our lives! A very prosperous Happy Diwali to you and yours.

Every year on November 11, we pause to celebrate and honor the brave people who have proudly served their country as part of the Armed Forces. Our veterans are crucial to life as we know it today because they protect our freedom, provide us with a way to learn about our history and the world around us, and risk their lives for people they have never met. We salute you!

Our campaign team is collecting our lawn signs. If you have a lawn sign for us to pick up, please email your address to [email protected]. Thanks so much!

Top 10 Reasons to VOTE!

1. Voting is the foundation of our democracy. 2. We won’t see real change unless we vote for it. 3. In Chatham, voting is easier than ever. 4. If you don’t use it, you could lose it. 5. FREE STICKERS! 6. Because history doesn’t have to repeat itself. 7. To have a say in how your money is spent. 8. To show that transparency is important in government. 9. To elected Committee people dedicated to Chatham. 10. Because Jen & Marty are the most experienced, long-time Chatham residents who have given back to the community for decades!

Today marks an important moment for our community—it's Election Day, a day that resonates with the power of your voice. The polls stand open, welcoming your presence and your choice until 8 pm. If you've selected a mail-in-ballot, kindly ensure its safe delivery in our secure drop boxes by 8pm.

Reflecting on our journey, we take immense pride in the positive, Chatham-centric campaign we've conducted. Your unwavering support, both at the ballot box and throughout this election season, fills us with gratitude. It is with appreciation that we anticipate the possibility of representing our cherished Township community. Your trust fuels our dedication, and we thank you for believing in our vision.

We are proud of the positive, substantive campaign we have run this year. We will ALWAYS be honest with our residents and serve the community with highest integrity.

Mail in your Ballot TODAY or Meet us at the Polls!

1 DAY UNTIL THE ELECTION!

Be sure to make a plan on how you will cast your ballot for this Election. You have options to make your vote counts.

Mail-In-Ballots:
To vote by mail in this election, there are three return options:
1. Mail (postmarked by 8 PM - Nov. 7th)
2. Secure ballot drop box (by 8 PM - Nov. 7th)
3. Your county’s Board of Elections office (by 8 PM - Nov. 7th)
Your Mail-In Ballot CANNOT be returned to your early voting centers or polling place.
Find your closest secure ballot dropbox here: https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-secure-drop-boxes.shtml

In-Person on Election Day:
Election Day Polling places will be open from 6:00am – 8:00pm.
Find your polling location:
https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Government/Voting-and-Elections/Election-Day-Polling-Places

Should you have missed our latest mailing, we are pleased to provide it here for you. We invite you to delve into our platform and discover what is unique about us as candidates and our views on important topics for Chatham Township. Your vote is not just a choice; it's a powerful voice in shaping our community. Thank you for taking the time to consider our message

In case you missed our latest mailing, we wanted to ensure you have the opportunity to explore it. We invite you to delve into the support we have received and discover our history in Chatham Township. Your vote holds immense significance in shaping the future we envision. Thank you for your consideration. Make your plan to vote on November 7th.

We are deeply moved and incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support we've received during our campaign. The outpouring of encouragement from our fellow neighbors has been nothing short of inspiring, leaving us humbled, proud, and energized as we approach Election Day, just 5 days away. Furthermore, the endorsement and encouragement from esteemed elected officials, both past and present, reaffirm that we are in excellent company. We sincerely hope that the residents of Chatham Township will entrust us with their vote on November 7th, supporting Rowland & McHugh in our shared vision for a better community.

Your Vote ~ Your Voice!

Be sure to make a plan on how you will cast your ballot for this Election. You have several options to make your vote count.

Early Voting:
NOW through Nov. 5th
The hours of early voting during that period are as follows:
* Monday - Saturday from 10am - 8pm
* Sunday from 10am - 6pm
Closest Early voting location Madison ~ 50 Kings Rd, Madison 07940

Mail-In-Ballots:
To vote by mail in this election, there are three return options:
1. Mail (postmarked by 8 PM - Nov. 7th)
2. Secure ballot drop box (by 8 PM - Nov. 7th)
3. Your county’s Board of Elections office (by 8 PM - Nov. 7th)
Your Mail-In Ballot CANNOT be returned to your early voting centers or polling place.
Find your closest secure ballot dropbox here: https://nj.gov/state/elections/vote-secure-drop-boxes.shtml

In-Person on Election Day:
Election Day Polling places will be open from 6:00am – 8:00pm.
Find your polling location:
https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Government/Voting-and-Elections/Election-Day-Polling-Places

We have 1 WEEK until election day!

Have you made plans on how you are going to VOTE?

If you received a vote by mail ballot - make sure it is returned by mail or dropbox before 8pm on November 7th.

Planning on voting in person? Find your polling place here: https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Government/Voting-and-Elections/Election-Day-Polling-Places

YOUR VOICE, YOUR VOTE!

Vote by Mail ballots are out! Be sure to complete your ballot and turn it in as soon as possible. Make your VOTE count!

How to Vote by Mail: https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/Services/Vote-by-Mail

Application to Vote by Mail (Due 10/31/23):https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/forms-vote-by-mail/vote-by-mail-english-morris.pdf

Register to Vote: https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Government/Voting-and-Elections/Register-to-Vote

Thank you John for your support! We really appreciate your backing and your commitment to common sense leadership. We're dedicated to creating a warm, open community in Chatham Township, led by officials who prioritize transparency, accountability, and responsibility.

To read John's full letter of support click here: https://patch.com/new-jersey/chatham/ep/4135088

Respectfully waited until after the Jets v Giants game to knock on doors (what a game!), and worth being a little damp to have these great conversations with friends and neighbors. Vote Rowland and McHugh for Township Committee!

PLAN TO VOTE EARLY…
Residents of Morris County can vote early for the November 7th general election from October 28 through November 5. Early voting is just like the process on election day, as voters use the same machines to cast their ballot.

The hours of early voting during that period are as follows:
* Monday - Saturday from 10am - 8pm
* Sunday from 10am - 6pm

Closest Early voting location open to all Morris County residents:

* * Madison Early Voting Location: 50 Kings Rd, Madison 07940

Today, we pay tribute to the approximately 4.6 million dedicated police officers, firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics in the U.S. Their unwavering bravery and courage are a shining example of their commitment to the communities they serve.

Please come out to the Farmers Market with diapers to support this much-needed cause! Thank you!!

Thank you Bill Radwill! We are deeply grateful for your letter of support. Your confidence in us, along with your acknowledgment of our experience and dedication to our community, means the world to us.

From the Chatham Courier:

LETTER: Chatham Township's signs of the times
Oct 25, 2023

TO THE EDITOR:

It is clearly election season with all those signs around town that nobody likes. But indeed there is one on my front yard supporting Marty McHugh and Jen Rowland (for election to the Chatham Township Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 7).

I am not a big sign fan, but I am a big fan of Marty McHugh to be placed on the Township Committee along with Jen Rowland. I am not alone. Please take a stroll down Ormont Road and you will encounter a sea of blue signs and there is a simple reason behind it. We all know Marty.

I have known Marty for 30 years and he is a person of highest integrity, very hard working, and I know he is absolutely dedicated to the improvement of the town and cares for all of his neighbors. He doesn’t say it, he lives it.

I do not know Jen yet, but I am a senior and somewhat “old school” in my outlook that it is “character first.” Based upon Marty and his confidence in Jen I look forward to their team helping us manage Chatham with competence and caring.
We all see those annoying but necessary signs around town and we look forward to their removal on Wednesday, Nov. 8. But did you also notice that the red signs dominate the free public spaces not needing permission and the blue signs dominate the front yards of residents where permission is needed?

There is a reason for that. It is because those people also know Marty and Jen. I plan to vote for Marty and Jen and I ask you to consider voting for them as well.

WILLIAM RADWILL
Ormont Road
Chatham Township

Thank you to the Chatham Courier for your invaluable endorsement of us for the Chatham Township Committee. Your thoughtful support means the world to us and will fuel our campaign's momentum. Your recognition, as featured in the Chatham Courier, reinforces our dedication to this community. With your support, we are poised to create an even stronger Chatham Township, fostering a community of neighbors who take pride in our shared home.

CHATHAM COURIER ENDORSES ROWLAND AND MCHUGH:

"Voters in Chatham Township will go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7 to decide which two of the four candidates will be elected to the Township Committee, a three-year term.

The candidates this year are Republican Mayor Ashley Felice and Deputy Mayor Mark Hamilton, who are both serving the final years of their first terms, and Democrat challengers Marty McHugh and Jen Rowland.

Our endorsement goes to McHugh and Rowland, both of whom have considerable experience in the financial sector.

McHugh has called himself a “straight-shooter” who is skilled at what he does and does not embellish. McHugh is a member of the Board of Adjustment, which requires considerable knowledge of property and land to function efficiently. Township land is both highly prized and incredibly valuable.

Rowland is a mother of five and a strong proponent of keeping Chatham Township open and inclusive. She has repeatedly argued for the township to revive the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She is currently the Audit and Finance Committee chairwoman for the New Jersey Innovation Institute at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and has seen both the importance of frequent technological updates and strong fiscal planning.

Their combined experiences in the financial sector – McHugh in overseeing the international supply of major capital projects, and Rowland as a certified public accountant – will benefit the municipal budget season. Both have argued in favor of a return to volunteerism and increased engagement of residents.

Opponents Felice and Hamilton have thoroughly criticized the Democratic Party for raising taxes in 2020 and 2021, the only two years in the past 20 to have a Democratic majority in the township.

While taxes did indeed rise in Chatham Township in 2020 and 2021, these years were also those most affected by the pandemic. It was also during these two years that Chatham Township was deep in affordable housing negotiations.

These negotiations have wound down and the pandemic’s affect on everyday life has mostly disappeared, yet taxes are no lower than they were during Democratic majority.

It’s also worth wondering why the Republican Party did not begin negotiations sooner. By the time 2020 hit, judges were demanding towns present affordable housing roadmaps, and the committee had waited so long that there was concern that the committee would redevelop the Chatham Township Municipal Building or nearby Noe Pond. It was by fortune that the township was able to acquire Charlie Brown’s restaurant.

Lastly, voters will also have to vote on two ballot questions submitted by the school board, which would raise taxes by as much as 2.53 percent if both pass.
These questions cover security and healthcare benefits, both highly critical topics.

Felice and Hamilton have seemingly not spoken out about how they will address this tax rise. This is odd, as the pair have stressed the importance of a well-supplied police department, and Felice was among the mayors who publicly condemned last year’s increases to health insurance premiums. McHugh and Rowland have said they are ready to work with this tax rise.

Vote for McHugh and Rowland for Township Committee at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7. "

We started this journey with this platform -- plan better for our future, protect our green spaces, finish Affordable Housing right, keep local politics civil and nonpartisan. We are honored and thankful for the support we received – a combined total of 6518 votes, and the largest vote count for Democratic candidates in Chatham Township history. We are excited by the large Democratic turnout and are honored to have received significant support across Republican and Unaffiliated voters.

We want to thank our donors for your generous support. Thank you to so many of you for your endorsements, messages of support and feedback. Our campaign was made possible by so many donations and volunteers who poured hours into it despite the challenges of COVID-19 protocols.

We congratulate Ashley Felice and Mark Hamilton and their families and wish them well. We expect that they will live up to their campaign promise to act with all residents in mind for the betterment of our entire Township.

Being involved in local government is critical, especially as we navigate big issues in the Township over the next few months. We will continue to be involved in reviewing and finding ways to help Chatham Township prosper into the future.

An engaged Chatham is a better Chatham. Our journey has just begun.

Thank you!
Amee Shah & Phil Ankel