Democratic Mayoral Nominee Bill Brennan

Name:  William L. Brennan

 

Age: 50

 

Address: 518 Birch Avenue, Westfield, NJ 07090

 

Length of Time in Town: 16 years

 

Family Life: Married to Cathy Brennan.  Children:  Nicholas 19, Kate 17, and Natalie 13. 

 

Education: Academic scholarship to Seton Hall University.  Graduated Magna Cum Laude 1980.  Graduated Fordham University School of Law in 1983. 

 

Professional Life: Attorney and Managing Partner for Callan, Koster, Brady & Brennan.  New Jersey office.

 

Community/Political: Former councilman in Rutherford, New Jersey.  Member of the Pastoral Council and Lector at St. Helen's Parish in Westfield, New Jersey.  Former Municipal Court Judge in Westfield, New Jersey.  Former Chairman of the Mayor's Expenditure Review Committee.  Former Chairman of the Mayor's Committee on the Raritan Valley Line, which explored a direct ride to Manhattan and improvement of services.  Former Coach Recreation Basketball and Softball. 

Web Site: www.brennanformayor.net

 

Contact Information: Work number 732-345-9333, home number 908-654-8627, work e-mail brennan@ckbbnjlaw.com and campaign e-mail billformayor@yahoo.com.

 

 

        1.    Taxes/Budget - Unlike the present Mayor, I can guarantee the voters that I will personally review every line item in the budget and improve transparency by opening the budget meetings to the public.

 

        2.    Our Downtown - Our property values are tied to a viable Downtown and the present administration is driving shoppers out of town leading to the closing of stores because of the aggressive enforcement of exorbitant overtime parking tickets. 

 

        3.    Public Safety - As a former Prosecutor and Judge, I will put an end to drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians in our crosswalks and who speed through our neighborhoods with no regard to the safety of our children.

 

   1.    Taxes/Budget - There is no greater responsibility than the oversight of the Town's $40 million dollar budget.  The Mayor, four years ago, promised to personally review the budget.  He has not kept his promise.  In fact, he has not attended a single budge meeting for the four years that he has been in office.  Moreover, his budget meetings are conducted behind closed doors and the public is not allowed to attend.  Immediately upon my election, I will open the Finance Committee meetings to the public and I will attend every budget meeting.  The Mayor also gave raises to Town employees in a time of an unprecedented economic downturn.  He has also significantly depleted the Town's surplus accounts after vowing not to touch those accounts when he ran for election four years ago. 

 

        2.    Downtown - Times are tough and we should not make it tougher for our Downtown.  More and more stores are closing and people are intentionally refusing to shop in Westfield due to the aggressive ticketing environment.  It certainly seems that the parking enforcement patrol is waiting for the second your time expires to write a ticket.  People have been sitting in their cars and have gotten tickets.  The Mayor also raised the fee an astonishing 60% from $20 to $32.  In an attempt to raise revenue, the present administration will lose revenue in the future.  The Mayor is being very short sighted.  If stores continue to close Downtown, our property values will clearly decrease. 

 

        3.    Public Safety - Several weeks ago, I issued a press release calling for a program to improve pedestrian safety.  The Mayor refused to implement my suggestions.  Several days ago, another pedestrian was struck in a crosswalk.  We have to begin an immediate program of education and enforcement.  We must start a program that has been extremely successful in other towns to ensure pedestrian safety.  I will also work with our Police Department, the Prosecutor and the Judge to revamp the Town's attitude, enforcement, prosecution and punishment of people who speed throughout our Town.  As a former Prosecutor and former Westfield Municipal Court Judge, I have the experience to get the job done to protect our children and other pedestrians. 

 

I am a former councilman, prosecutor and judge.  I am also a practicing attorney for over twenty five years.  I negotiate everyday on my job.  Next year the Town will be negotiating union contracts. I will attend those negotiating sessions.  Salaries are the biggest part of the municipal budget and any savings will have a direct effect on taxes. As a judge I also learned to respectfully listen to both sides, think and then make a decision. These skills will carry over well to the position of Mayor.  The Town need decisive leadership. I also run a business. Our law practice has approximately 75 employees.  I want to make the mayor's job more of a business like position instead of being a ceremonial position.

 

I'm running because I believe I can make a difference.  I have no interest in running for higher office and I don't need a job. I simply want to help.  Westfield is a great Town, but we can be better. I want to bring people together for the greater good of the Town.  I constantly remind people that there is no Republican v. Democratic way to fill a pothole or plow the streets of snow.  We should be non-partisan on the local level and that is how I will run my administration. I know I have the ability to bring people with different views, together and build consensus.  A great man said, the way to get things done is not to worry who gets the credit. We will gets thing done.

 

My wife, Cathy and I have been together a long time. We are high school sweethearts. I am blessed that she puts up with my passion for public service and has sacrificed to allow me to volunteer my time as Mayor. My law partners have fully endorsed my service as well.  All of my partners are former prosecutors and they realize the importance of public service.  I do not travel on  my job so I will always be around. My children also share my enthusiasm for the position.  I often joke that with three teenagers living under one roof, I am looking for an excuse to get out of the house!

 

I think not. Look around. Our streets are in a deplorable condition, stores are closing at a troubling pace, pedestrian accidents are increasing, home burglaries are skyrocketing and taxes have risen at an alarming rate. In the past two years the Mayor has drained the Town's savings accounts after vowing four years ago that he wouldn't touch the accounts.  Equally troubling is the fact that most of our important Town committees and meetings are held behind closed doors where the public cannot attend.  When I go door to door people have told me that they believe Westfield is living off its past reputation and we are losing ground to neighboring Towns. If the present Mayor is re-elected he will have served for eleven years. I believe its time for new leadership and new ideas and I hope the voters agree on November 3rd.  It will be my great honor to serve as Mayor if I am given that opportunity.