Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, who announced on Tuesday he will seek a fourth term, has breezed to victory in his prior races.
His political skills will face their biggest test this time. Challenges include a pandemic that has hobbled downtown businesses, debate over the pace of development, a determined primary opponent, and a political corruption case that has hit close to home.
“Over the last year, we have faced unprecedented times with extraordinary challenges while at the same time we rallied together as a community,” Dougherty, 62, said in a statement.
“We have kept Morristown moving forward and together we have achieved meaningful success over the last four years,” he said.
He will run in the June 8 Democratic primary with at-large Council members Toshiba Foster and David Silva, and Nathan Umbriac, a member of the town Environmental Commission and the Morristown Housing Authority board.
Umbriac replaces two-term Councilman Michael Elms on the ticket.
Dougherty will be challenged in the primary by Esperanza Porras-Field, founder of the Morris County Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce.
The mayor’s announcement comes less than a week after his wife, Mary Dougherty, was sentenced to probation for falsifying a campaign expense report during her 2018 campaign for Morris County freeholder.
Tim Dougherty’s statement, issued by a public relations firm, did not make reference to what impact that might have on the race. He has expressed love and support for his spouse throughout the state’s investigation.
The mayor indicated his platform will emphasize the addition of 11 acres of open space (the acquisition of the Loyola tract near Foote’s Pond), creation of pocket parks and a community garden a decade ago.
He also will point to creation of affordable housing, five budgets with municipal tax decreases, and the recent accreditation of the police department by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, which “acknowledges and recognizes policies and procedures of the highest standards.
“Together we have put Morristown first by expanding our parks and open space, improving services and stabilizing our taxes,” said Mayor Dougherty, who also created the Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival.
Porras-Field, a Colombian immigrant who is a realtor, is striving to become Morristown’s first Hispanic American mayor, and its first woman to serve as mayor.
She has accused the mayor of fostering pay-to-play development, and bullying those with different opinions. She said she will push for term limits, a community center, and shared recycling- and recreational services with neighboring towns, while scrutinizing agreements that enable developers to bypass school taxes.
Foster, the council’s vice president, is seeking her third term.
“It has been an honor to serve Morristown residents over the last eight years. We have and will continue to strive to make Morristown more affordable and have successfully worked on several public safety initiatives. I am excited for continuing the progress,” she said in the statement.
Silva, a Colombian immigrant who in 2017 became the first Latino elected to the council, added:
“Since joining the Council we have worked diligently and tirelessly to improve our parks, safeguard quality of life and attract new small businesses to our Downtown. But there is still a lot that we need to work on to build upon our success.”
Umbriac, who is a board member for the Interfaith Food Pantry, stated he is “enthusiastic to join such a dynamic ticket of leaders in our community. They have constantly fought to do the best for all residents and I look forward to working alongside them to continue the progress.”
The mayor previously served on the council. He works at the Prudential Center as an engineer.
“Together we have made great strides, but there is always more we can do,” he said in his statement. “Together we will always put Morristown first.”
Total narcissist, as is the self appointed First Lady. Both utterly shameless and void of any conscience. Less than a week after her guilty plea, having accepted a cash bribe, then traded it for illegal straw donor checks (easier to hide…). Partners in crime and cover-up