Five Questions With Maplewood Township Committee Candidate Art Gartenlaub

What other Boards or Committees have you been a part of and how has your experience prepared you for the Maplewood Township Committee?

I have served on the Board of Directors of the Jersey Animal Coalition, been a three-time president of the Maplewood Glee Club, volunteered for a variety of Fourth of July committees, been a former musical director for several Strollers’ productions, been elected as four-time Commander of the Maplewood Memorial Post 10120 Veterans of Foreign Wars, served as a member of the American Legion, been a member of the Maplewood/South Orange Elks, served as a former member of The Maplewood Rotary, and been Chairman of Maplewood’s 2012 Annual Memorial Day Parade and Memorial Ceremony.

Why do you want to be on the Township Committee?

As a 70 year resident of Maplewood I believe that I am qualified to bring not only my professional and community participation experience to the Township Committee but also a sense of the unique history of Maplewood to the current Township Committee. Given that the vast majority of Township decisions have been voted on unanamously by the members of the current Township Committee, I recognize that my single vote may not change a majority opinion; however I believe that all Maplewoodians' voices must be heard. For the past generation, the Township government has been administered by what appears to be a singular mindset, a focus that is not necessarily representative of the will of what has been referred to as the "voice of the unheard." I wish to be that voice.

What is your occupation and what makes you qualified for this position?

As a lifelong resident of Maplewood, having attended and graduated from Clinton School, South Orange Junior High School and Columbia High School. After attending American University and serving in the US Army in a variety of assignments, I have been fortunate enough to have gained career experience ranging from teaching at Seton Hall University to a variety of Managerial and Executive positions in both Major and Small Business organizations including AT&T, Lucent and Avaya. In addition to managerial, retail experience with both Target and Petsmart.

What issues do you plan to tackle if elected?

• Local government transparency and improved communications
• Investigate The Maplewood Pool changes since it's original self-funded operation to a township responsibility
• Clarify the rational for the purchase of the Women’s Club property
• Resurect the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC)
• Current and future status of the downtown Post Office project

Why should residents vote for you?

I encourage you to vote for me so that I can:

• Revitalize the Citizens Budget Advisary Committee (CBAC)
• Institute programs to encourage our seniors to remain as residents in our town
• Propose measures to make Maplewood more business inviting
• Recommend additional shared services with neighboring communities to share costs, without degradation of those services
• Negotiate lower-cost services, products, and supplies in concert with neighboring towns—a buying consortium
• Reach out to the many service organizations in town for support, both financial and volunteer, for the vast number of projects that are wanted, needed and required
• Encourage local professionals to become more involved in volunteer advisory positions to provide expertise on project that have long-term effect on Maplewood as a community
• Organize neighborhood watch groups to report to local law enforcement potential incidents