Candidate Roundup

My name is Danielle Walsh and I am a lifelong resident of Middletown, proud BOE member, and active volunteer in the community. My husband and I live in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown with our three children, Rebecca (14), Patricia (14) and Jack (13), who attend our public schools. The majority of my professional background lies in Medical Conference Planning and Marketing. I have served as a BOE member for 3 years (President 2017) as well as on the Strategic Planning Committee, PIC Committee, Budget Ad Hoc Committee, and on Teacher and Administrator Negotiations.

As my three year term on the Board of Education comes to a close, I would like to take the experience and leadership skills I have garnished to build a bridge between the Board of Education and the Township Committee. That starts with the development of a comprehensive shared services expansion between the Township Committee and the Board of Education, beginning with a commitment from each governing body to have a liaison attend each other's meetings, serve on joint committees, and share positive accomplishments with residents through Middletown Literature. By establishing a positive relationship between these governing bodies, we can explore resident tax relief through grant writing opportunities, increased purchasing power for professional services, and implementation of 'green' energy saving projects.

I would also like to implement new community input coalitions with residents, police, business owners, school representatives and first responders to help drive policy and projects, and allow concerns and suggestions to be included before major Township initiatives and decisions are implemented.

I have seen first hand what our community can accomplish when we band together. As a Township Committeewoman, I would value the voices of our residents, encourage constructive discourse, and explore tax saving measures to ensure the Middletown we pass on to our children reflects the best of who we are as a community.