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From the BTDC

Ana Duarte McCarthy, smiling

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Municipal Matters: February 2026

Hello and Happy new year! As has been customary, I am sharing an update on the Township Committee actions that have occurred during the month of January. On Tuesday, January 6, we held our annual reorganization meeting. Mr. Brett Hodges and Mr. John Tompkins were sworn in as newly elected Township Committee members. Later, I […]

Brett Hodges, Ana McCarthy and John Tompkins stand in front of the Bernards Township seal.

On Tuesday, January 6, Bernards Township enjoyed an historic occasion – the swearing in of its first Democratic mayor ever, as well as its first Democratic majority in nearly a century. The Warren Craft Room at the Municipal Building on Collyer Lane was jam-packed with residents who witnessed Ana McCarthy’s swearing in as Mayor, John […]

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Township Committee Turns Blue!!

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Municipal Matters: January 2026

Hello!  I hope everyone celebrating has enjoyed a nice holiday season.  We hosted our 36th annual Christmas Eve dinner, for the combined Duarte and McCarthy families. This year’s theme, “A Wintry White Christmas” was a wonderful evening of laughter and love.    During December the Township Committee held two meetings. At the December 9 meeting, […]

True Blue: Linda Ness & Munir Cochinwala

True Blue

Hailing from Austin, Texas where they met and studied computer science, Linda Ness and Munir Cochinwala have enjoyed decades raising their family in Basking Ridge. While Linda grew up on a dairy farm in southern Minnesota, and Munir in Pakistan, this dynamic pair shares common ground in their support for democracy in all its iterations. […]

True Blue

True Blue: Casey Collins

Not only is Casey Collins a true-blue Democrat, she’s a true-blue friend. As a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, during the first week of college, Casey met two men who would both become loves of her life. One would become her husband, but that story is for another day. The other would become a lifelong […]

Hello! I hope everyone enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving. We were in Mendham at the home of my sister Amalia, Committeewoman, Mendham Township. This was her 30th year hosting and underscores how time flies. In this season of thanks, I want to express my gratitude to Bernards Township residents Brett Hodges, John Tompkins, and Elizabeth Graner, for […]

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Municipal Matters: December 2025

News

Making A Difference: Bernards Township Progressive Women

There’s a very impactful group of Democrats in town that flies beneath the proverbial radar – Bernards Township Progressive Women. The cohort first came together as a very small private Facebook group started by Lisa Bahler in 2016 and grew exponentially after Trump’s first election. Today, the Progressive Women’s page boasts more than 500 followers. […]

Democrats Win the Majority on the Bernards Township Committee

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November 19, 2025 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Democrats Win the Majority on the Bernards Township Committee We are pleased to share that as of today’s election certification, Brett Hodges and John Tompkins were elected to the Bernards Township Committee, commencing January 6, 2026. This election also marks the first time in recent history that every Democratic […]

News

Making A Difference: Somerset County Food Bank

The Food Bank of Somerset County is currently focused on emergency planning for the pressing SNAP crisis. They are working closely with Somerset County leadership, as well as the County Office of Emergency Management, and are planning for a drive-through distribution on 15-16 November at the County facility at 411 Chimney Rock Rd., Bridgewater.   In […]

Hello!  While there are still some votes to be counted, the Hodges and Tompkins campaign is well on its way to a resounding victory. Currently, Brett Hodges is ahead by 209 votes and John Tompkins is ahead by 384.  For the first time in history, we will have a Democratic majority on our Township Committee. […]

True Blue

True Blue: Team Hodges & Tompkins

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Municipal Matters: November 2025

Hello!   As I write this column, the election is underway. I want to thank Bernards Township residents Brett Hodges, John Tompkins, and Elizabeth Graner, for giving their time and talent to run for election, and to Bernice “Tina” Jalloh for seeking reelection. Thank you as well to the campaign team for supporting these candidates in their quest for office. Collectively candidates and […]

The Arrogance is Palpable

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Our opponents refuse to answer questions from our local newspaper. Our opponent McMahon has yet to show up at any township committee meeting. The arrogance is palpable. Read the article: Read the article: