Meet Brandon Minde: Livingston Township Council Candidate – TAPinto.net
LIVINGSTON, NJ — Meet Brandon Minde, a 12-year Livingston resident running for township council on Nov. 6.
Minde, a lawyer at Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski, P.C., in Cranford, grew up in neighboring West Orange and attended West Orange Public Schools. He graduated from Muhlenberg College and George Washington University Law School. He met his wife, Claudia, a South Orange native, at 13 years old while participating in the JCC Metrowest Maccabi Games. Together, they have three daughters: Madelyn, 8, Joslyn, 6, and Evelyn, 1. Mady and Joss currently attend Collins Elementary School in Livingston.
Q: Why are you running for township council?
A: Livingston is a great town. I’ve lived here for 12 years with my wife Claudia. A lifelong resident of Essex County, growing up in neighboring West Orange, I spent much time here at the mall, Colony theater, diners, and basketball courts. Livingston was the easy choice for Claudia and me when it came to where we wanted to raise our 3 girls. Those places and memories shaped who I am. I want to ensure my daughters can create similar fond memories in Livingston; and that all residents have the opportunity to continue making fond memories in Livingston.
When I began my campaign several months ago, I stated that I wanted to make this a campaign of ideas for positive change. Over the past several months I have actively met with residents and put out information online and elsewhere about ideas. Ideas on how we can make our residents’ lives easier, not more difficult. Ideas on how we can attract and grow businesses, not drive them away. Ideas that will make Livingston the leader it can and should be; a place we are proud to call home.
My professional career has been focused on transparency and openness in government, and now I want to bring my dedication and vision to the Livingston Council. I believe my ideas and experiences offer a perspective that should be added to the current Town Council in order to best serve Livingston families and taxpayers. I believe that at the local level especially, we should focus on the person, not the party. It is a common misconception that when choosing Councilmen, you can only select one party or the other. With 5 candidates, you can choose whoever you think will best serve Livingston.
Q: Why do you feel you deserve the job? What qualifies you for it?
A: Although this is my first venture into politics, I’m no stranger to public service. I will bring a broad range of valuable professional experience to our Council. I fought crime and government corruption as an Essex County Assistant Prosecutor. In the Corruption Unit, I managed investigations and conducted prosecutions of corruption, fraud, waste and government misconduct. I received training in economic crimes and financial investigations from the National White Collar Crime Center, and cyber-crime and computer forensics from the National Computer Forensics Institute. I was appointed a Special Deputy NJ Attorney General to lead a joint investigation into Essex County election fraud through absentee voter ballots, which resulted in several convictions.
I served as Executive Director of the NJ Government Records Council, the independent state agency that adjudicates complaints filed under the Open Public Records Act concerning denials of access to government records, offers a mediation program for the resolution of disputes, issues advisory opinions as to disclosure of public records, prepares guidelines for use in complying with the law, and provides training on OPRA law to government officials and the public. I also served as Assistant Counsel to the Governor, where I enforced regulations to protect taxpayers and guided major State independent agencies, including in efforts to identify and eliminate wasteful spending.
I have experience serving on boards, including the NJ Sales and Use Tax Review Commission, and the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority. I’m a member of the NJ Anti-Defamation League Advisory Board. I know what it takes to bring people together to achieve an overall goal. I will bring the right professional experience to add a needed perspective to Livingston’s Town Council.
Q: What other issues are important?
A: As your Town Councilman, I will advocate for accountable government through increased transparency and public access. One of my new ideas: live-streaming all Town Council meetings so residents who cannot make an evening meeting, whether because they are working that night or home with the family, can still easily view meetings live on their computer or smartphone or access them at any later time they choose through a readily accessible webpage archiving every past meeting. Implementing this low cost measure will increase government accountability and make it easier for residents to participate in their government.
I will foster a vibrant business environment by promoting walkable and family friendly business districts that will attract the dining, service and retail destinations our residents desire. Saturday nights we visit neighboring towns and spend money supporting their local businesses. Let’s keep our residents and dollars in Livingston. We need a business-friendly environment and should start by reviewing town ordinances and regulations to eliminate unnecessary red tape and restrictive rules. We should organize town events, like jazz nights, street fairs, and fun gatherings, in business areas to bring people out. These measures send the message to the business community they’re welcome here and we want them to thrive.
I will tap into the ideas, talents and experiences of our residents. Whether creating a Livingston music festival that rivals those of our neighboring towns, or seeking ways to actively display the artistic and other talents of our residents, the Council must ensure that the Livingston experience is top notch and in-line with what neighboring communities offer.
Finally – sidewalks. In order to have walkable areas in town, we first need to make sure we have safe areas to walk on. Several township sidewalks, including those leading up to the oval and in front of Haines Memorial pool, are, quite frankly, a disaster. Many kids and seniors walk by that sidewalk everyday and are forced to use the street because it is too dangerous to walk on some of these sidewalks. These are town sidewalks. What I can tell you is that for issues related to safety, ADA compliance, fitness, aesthetics, liability and more, fixing township sidewalks like this is at the top of my list.
Q: How do you feel about property taxes in Livingston? Please explain.
A: It should not be accepted wisdom that taxes must rise every year. I believe in spending money wisely on facilities, resources, infrastructure and programs that make Livingston a wonderful place. I also recognize many families’ concern of going from youngest child’s “Congrats Graduate” sign to “For Sale” sign the next day. This Council operates under the premise that taxes only rise. When the Council says be happy increases are on the lower end, consider this: when that increase occurs annually, percentage adds up. If this Council has been unable to find savings in any of their budgets, they aren’t looking close enough. This year’s budget benefits from new ratables totaling $70 million. I’d advocate using some portion of that increase to lower taxes.
We can control taxes with strong fiscal management and forensic reviews of the municipal budget that eliminate wasteful spending and identify greater efficiencies for cost savings. An example of wasteful spending: this Council approved a $65,000 contract to a Tennessee company to develop a community marketing and branding plan. I’d object to such wasteful spending. Instead let’s tap into our educated and talented residents! I’d lead an audit of local government to make sure it’s structured efficiently and using modern technologies to improve customer service and realize cost savings. Making Livingston more business friendly will lead to a vibrant business environment that attracts commercial ratables to help offset reliance on residential property taxes.
As a former prosecutor, I developed the skills and mindset to ask the right questions, and be a trusted watchdog of the taxpayers’ money. As a former assistant counsel in the Governor’s Office, I combed through budgets of NJ’s largest independent authorities to identify wasteful spending. If you’re looking to lower taxes, my experiences and perspective are one to add to the Council.
Q: Tell us about your other career.
A: I am a Partner with Dughi, Hewit & Domalewski, P.C. I have legal experience in both the government and private sectors. My practice focuses on complex litigation, business disputes, and government investigations. My work in the government sector is described above. For my work, I have been recognized on NJBIZ’s “Forty Under 40” List of Most Accomplished & Dynamic Leaders, and honored by the New Jersey Law Journal as one of the “New Leaders of the Bar.” I am a Past-Trustee of the New Jersey State Bar Association Board of Trustees, and have served on and chaired several NJSBA sections and committees. I will bring the right professional experience to add a needed perspective to Livingston’s Town Council.