There are four candidates vying for two Dunellen Borough Council positions. Because current Council President Kenneth Baudendistel (R) is not seeking re-election, there is only one incumbent candidate, Jeremy Lowder (R), who was initially elected in 2015. The other three candidates, April Burke (D), David DeNapoli (R), and Stacy Narvesen (D) are running for the first time as council candidates.
For more information regarding the candidates, check out their Facebook pages.
| Democrat | Republican |
| Stacy Narvesen and April Burke for Dunellen Borough Council | ONE Dunellen: DeNapoli & Lowder for Dunellen Borough Council |
SAMPLE BALLOT: http://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Government/Departments/CS/Documents/Elections/2018%20General/Dunellen.pdf
Both parties are offering free rides to the polls this Tuesday.
Below are personal statements that each of the candidates provided Dunellen411.
In Alphabetical Order
April Burke (D)
My name is April Burke and I have chosen to run for Council because I would like to add a voice that is a better representation of our town. Dunellen is a diverse town made up of many families with young children. It is important to include this perspective, and their needs, on our town council. Electing the same people year after year will not allow for these changes to happen.
I am committed to improving Dunellen. When purchasing our home 9 years ago, my husband and I were impressed with Dunellen: people were outside caring for their homes and yards, there were sidewalks to encourage a pedestrian community, and our future neighbors even welcomed us as we inspected our home. Dunellen is a welcoming and wonderful town for young families, and this dynamic must continued to be encouraged and tapped into.
One of my goals as a member of town council would be to increase communication and transparency between the local government and residents. It is important that you know how your tax dollars are being spent! Additionally, our town website is out of date and difficult to navigate leaving residents confused about who to contact. And information on when road repairs will happen or why sidewalks or closed oftentimes is not communicated. Our residents feel left in the dark wanting to know more about their small town. Many local municipalities use a variety of social media platforms to communicate information to their residents. It is important that our town council embrace modern platforms to communicate with our residents.
I have two children that attend Faber Elementary School and our family is a member of the PTO. Additionally, both my children are active participants in Dunellen Recreation programs, my husband frequently coaches baseball and soccer teams, and in the summer of 2017 I began a Sports Equipment Exchange program to assist Dunellen families. I have been a high school history teacher for fourteen years, with most of my career spent in the Berkeley Heights Public Schools and have acted as the Vice President of my local education association for eight years. I graduated from the University of Alabama with a BA in History and relocated to New Jersey in 2003 to earn my Masters of Arts in Teaching at Montclair State University.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to improve Dunellen.
David K. DeNapoli (R)
My name is Dave DeNapoli and I am a lifelong Dunellen resident. My wife Dorene and I have three children who have all benefited from Dunellen’s schools and recreational programs. I currently work as the Dunellen High School Athletic Director and as the Head Football Coach for the Dunellen Destroyers.
My volunteer experience includes serving as a Dunellen Recreation Commissioner and serving as a member of the Dunellen Lion’s Club. Before becoming a full-time PE/Health teacher for the Dunellen School District, I volunteered as a high school football coach from 1992 to 1995, and was named Head Coach in 1996. Simultaneously, I was working to obtain my Bachelors in Health & Physical Science from Kean University.
If elected to the Dunellen Borough, I will work to:
- Improve community engagement by creating a Citizen Task Force that would advise the Mayor and Council on Dunellen issues at-large.
- Continue to support the economic development of Dunellen’s downtown by supporting the current efforts of the Mayor and Council to create a walkable and bicycle friendly downtown for pedestrians.
- Expand upon recreational and educational programs for Seniors in Dunellen.
- Advocate for a free-lance grant writer to assist Dunellen in seeking and applying for private, county, state and federal grants.
My story began in Dunellen. I have chosen to raise my family here. I believe Dunellen’s better days are still ahead of us. If I am honored to serve on the Dunellen Borough Council, I will continue teaching others that giving back to your community is the worthiest gift. With the help of your vote, I will represent ALL hardworking Dunellen families.
Jeremy Lowder (R)
My name is Jeremy Lowder and I have lived in Dunellen for 19 years. My wife Angela and I decided to start a home in Dunellen because the borough appealed to us as a warm-hearted community. We have three children that have been educated by the Dunellen Public School system. I am grateful for the education and safety the schools provided my children.
I currently serve as a first-term Councilmember and I lead the Dunellen Buildings and Grounds Committee. I have volunteered for the Dunellen Defender Fire Company since 2004; I currently serve as the Fire Chief. I am a proud supporter and member of Dunellen’s emergency services community. In addition, I own and operate a local electric construction company.
During my first term as a Councilmember, I have:
- Replaced non-metered lights in Columbia Park and the Fire House to LED lights. This modification cut the price for electricity for each light in half;
- Installed security cameras at the DPW yard;
- Repaired the lights in the Washington Memorial Park Sign;
- Added additional lights in Columbia Park along the walking path entrance near the tennis courts, and
- Led efforts to clear out our brooks to alleviate flooding.
If re-elected, I will:
- Advocate to re-do the FEMA Flood map once the South Ave culvert project is completed;
- Return revenues from the Art Color development to improve parks, our downtown, departmental deficiencies, and advocate to stabilize taxes or cut taxes;
- Endorse a downtown that is inclusive of arts and culture, social events, and seating for residents and visitors; and
- Advocate that all public parks be switched to LED lighting to save the borough money and be more environmentally friendly.
I believe this election is about Dunellen’s future and preserving the integrity of our collaborative community. I look forward to working with you to make Dunellen an even better place to live!
Stacy Narvesen (D)
My name is Stacy Narvesen. I am a Dunellen resident, and I’m running for a position on the town council. I am a graduate of New York University and hold a degree in Medical Diagnostic Sonography. I held a position in Pediatric echocardiology at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center before the birth of my second child, when I decided to become a stay-at-home Mom. I am an active member of the local MOMS club, and have held a board position in the past.
I am inspired to run for several reasons; the first being the lack of female representation. The current council has only one female voice in the mostly male (and mostly Republican) governing body, and I’m hoping to add to that female and Democratic voice. The second reason is I care about this town. Not only am I a homeowner, but I have two small children whom I wish to raise in this community and school system.
The downtown area represents the heart of our community, and I believe that we should build it up and showcase it more, and it should be utilized to its fullest extent. The schools are helping raise our future and should be treated as such, and our roads and parks ought to be a representation as to how amazing this “small town” really is. The people of this town go to great lengths to maintain their homes and properties, and I believe that the town owes us all similar upkeep of the community’s assets.
As a Councilperson, I am hoping to develop some non-tax ways to gain revenue for the town. We, as homeowners, are spending more and more on taxes, and have been left feeling like we’re not only holding the bag, but the bag is empty. Our taxes will probably never decrease, but why can’t we look at our neighboring towns and see what they’re doing that Dunellen is not? Granted, not everything will work for us as it may have for another town, but if we don’t look, we could be missing great opportunities.
Big changes can happen in small incremental steps, and I don’t believe enough steps have been taken to bring this town in the direction it should go. I’m a firm believer that actions speak louder than words, and would like the opportunity to represent the town’s people to make forward moving changes happen.