When I moved to Bernards Township 20 years ago, I was a Republican. It took me awhile to realize that the town leadership was politically stuck. It was fearful of newcomers and resisted change.

Switching parties after growing up in a prideful Republican family was a bit difficult, but my views had expanded. They more closely matched progressives on the other side.

After my switch to the Democratic Party, I paid more attention to town election campaigns and saw through the Republicans’ old “keep taxes down” mantra. I have viewed on Facebook those overdevelopment and safety videos showing current questionable building projects and past mistakes made by the Republican leadership.

I want our new Democratic leaders to look far into the future to plan and to work for quality, affordable housing in Bernards Township so that teachers, township employees, health service workers and low-income families can live where they work — right here. Our leadership should investigate every possible grant, developer concession and cooperative government partnership to help gain what all residents need.

Democrats Elizabeth Graner and Adam Subervi, who are running for our Township Committee, will do that. Both have impressive career experiences and a fine sense of the duties of public service. I won’t list them all here — teacher, lawyer, appointee to Somerset County Board of Taxation, Marine Corps Reservist Judge — because all are available in detail on their website: btdems.org/granersubervi/.

What strikes me so favorably about them is their pro-active stance in building a better community through advance planning and residents’ input. 

MARY JANE WALSH