‘Tis the season to count blessings, and the BTDC has certainly been blessed to call Fred Douglis its treasurer for the past several years. In fact, not only has Fred graciously managed finances for the committee, but he’s served as treasurer for the past several season’s local election campaigns as well.

Fred and his wife, Lisa Bahler (who manages the Bernards Township Progressive Women Facebook page), consider the BTDC more than their hometown political organization. “The best thing about the BTDC is that we have found our people. We had lived here for 15 years or so with a smattering of friends, and then the reinvention of the BTDC [post 2016 election] brought about a group of people we felt we truly share our beliefs with,” says Douglis.

Fred earned his PhD. in Computer Science at UC Berkeley after earning his undergraduate degree at Yale. He and Lisa are both computer scientists and work on DARPA-related government contract projects for Peraton Labs (descended from Bell Labs and Bellecore). Beyond Fred’s professional career, he’s an avid bridge player – both in person and online. He also enjoys all the daily NY Times online puzzles as well as LearnedLeague trivia play. Fred and Lisa raised their children in Basking Ridge. They have a daughter who was married about a year ago and is an attorney in New York City, as well as a son who’s a computer science developer outside of Madison, WI.

Fred is fairly optimistic about the BTDC’s growth and blue-leaning prospects moving forward.  “We’ve really stepped up and built a solid corps of people.” He contends, “The facts that we helped get Ana Duarte McCarthy elected a year ago, and the county has turned from deep red to one that consistently elects Democrats is a sign of change. What happened at the county level can happen here.” Fred feels strongly that the 2024 Republican sweep of the presidency and both chambers bodes well for a blue wave nationally and perhaps right here, in Basking Ridge, down the road.

For now, serving as treasurer is a charge Fred both covets and offers \ to pass along to others (to no avail!) when BTDC executive committee elections come along. He sincerely enjoys contributing to the efforts of local politics, working with the people involved and even entertains the possibility of running for office sometime in the future. “People have asked,” he says proudly. “I can’t serve while still working, but retirement may not be that far off.” 

The BTDC is grateful for Fred Douglis’s service in his current capacity, and would certainly support him passing the financial baton to run for office when he feels ready. Thank you, Fred!

– Jen Aaron