Contending that Morristown’s third ward has “been forgotten” by town government, Stefan Armington has become the first town resident to officially declare his council candidacy this year.
“I feel the Third Ward has been forgotten about over the last five years,” Stefan said in a statement.
“The quality of the Speedwell Avenue business district has deteriorated, neighborhood traffic has increased, and crime has gotten worse. Communication between residents and our Council representatives appears to be nonexistent. There is little community organization, and less initiative in leadership.”
He is running as a Democrat for the seat held by Democrat James Smith, who was aligned closely with previous Mayor Donald Cresitello. No word yet on whether Jim will seek re-election; he could not immediately be reached for comment. Jimmy said he has not yet decided if he will seek another term.
A June 7 primary challenge also could come from planning board Chairman Michael Pooler, who said he is contemplating a council run but has not decided.
That would be a pretty interesting campaign because Stefan also serves on the planning board, and the board is preparing to revise the town master plan.
It remains to be seen whether the Republicans will field a candidate.
Their only municipal candidate so far is fourth ward Councilwoman Alison Deeb, who intends to seek a second term, said Richard Babcock, vice-chairman of the Morristown Republican municipal committee.
The deadline for candidates from both parties to file their petitions is next month. Stefan is the first candidate to file with the town.
Independents are not required to file until primary day. Rebecca Feldman, the Independent incumbent from the first ward, said she will seek another term.
The other election is in the second ward, a seat held by Democrat Raline Smith-Reid. “I’m still working on deciding,” said Raline, who has served three terms.
Stefan, 44, ran for council as an Independent in 2007. He works as an environmental planner and consultant to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Improving the Speedwell Avenue business district is the most pressing matter in his ward, he said.
A major redevelopment project already is in the works for a portion of Speedwell near Spring Street. But Stefan expressed concerns for other stretches of Speedwell.
Under the last administration, he said in an interview, “the development policy for Speedwell has been to tear it down and replace it with something new.”
That discouraged investment, he said. Why spruce up something if it’s eventually going to be torn down?
Because redevelopment takes years, he worries that Speedwell will deteriorate in the meantime. Stefan cited Marty’s Reliable Cycle and the Rago Brothers repair shop as examples of successful building renovations on Speedwell. He wants to provide incentives for other businesses to do the same.
Biking is important to Stefan; he spearheaded efforts to create the town’s bicycle plan and vowed to keep pressing for streets that are friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians. He also was a key player in successful referendums supporting adoption of anti-pay-to-play regulations and opposing pay raises for the previous mayor, Donald Cresitello.
While praising the town’s general direction under Mayor Tim Dougherty, Stefan said it’s up to council members to advocate for their wards and that is his aim.
A resident of the Cutler Park neighborhood, Stefan has lived in Morristown for 14 years. He is a native of Washington, D.C., where his parents were economists for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He has a degree in political science from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in urban planning from New York University.
STATEMENT FORM STEFAN ARMINGTON:
Planning Board and Environmental Commission Member, Professional Planner
I‘m running for City Council because I care about improving the quality of life in the Third Ward and in all of Morristown.
I’ve lived in Morristown for the past 14 years, and I have been actively involved in improving my neighborhood and all of Morristown for the past 10 years.
As a citizen, I am very proud to have developed a Town-wide Bicycle Plan and successfully completed four town-wide petitions that resulted in real change.
I led the referendum effort to give citizens the right to make the Town adopt Pay to Play regulations and to reverse the Town Planning Board’s decisions to increase residential densities in our Ward.
I also conducted two petitions that reversed huge salary increases for the previous mayor. In my neighborhood, I worked with the Town to get a Welcome to Cutler Park sign, adopted the cleanup of the Patriots Path, and I am currently developing a neighborhood traffic calming plan and a Neighborhood Watch program to improve safety and security for neighborhood families.
You may ask why I want to run for Council now? I feel the Third Ward has been forgotten about over the last five years. The quality of the Speedwell Avenue business district has deteriorated, neighborhood traffic has increased, and crime has gotten worse. Communication between residents and our Council representatives appears to be nonexistent. There is little community organization, and less initiative in leadership.
I want to develop community-driven plans to reinvigorate investment in Speedwell Avenue businesses and improve the walking and bicycling environments along Speedwell Avenue and other neighborhoods and main streets in Town.
I want to discourage neighborhood cut-through traffic to make parents more comfortable letting their children walk to school. I want Morristown’s Third Ward residents to know what is happening in Town and know that their voices will be heard.
As a citizen activist, effecting real change is a slow and inefficient process, sometimes working without government support . Please vote for me as your Councilman in the June Democratic Primary, so that we may improve the Third Ward together.
