SHREWSBURY: DON EDDY Q&A

Donald Eddy. (Click to enlarge.)

Shrewsbury voters will choose a new mayor and two council members in the November 6 election.

Running to succeed two-term Mayor Don Burden are incumbent Republican Councilman Erik Anderson and Democrat David Dragonetti. The council contenders are Anderson’s running mates, Councilman Jeffrey DeSalvo and Council President Donald Eddy; and Democrats Carol Loeffler and Mandy Ngo.

Here are Eddy’s written responses to questions posed to all Shrewsbury candidates recently by redbankgreen.

Name: Don Eddy

Age: 56

Address: Shrewsbury, NJ

How long have you been a resident of Shrewsbury? 30 years

Where did you grow up? Western New York State

Where did you go to high school? Bloomfield Central School

Did you graduate from college? If so, which school, with what degree?

I hold a Masters of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Environmental Design and Planning from the University of Buffalo.

Have your served in the military? If so, which branch and when? No

What do you do for a living?

I work at a High-Tech Company as a Client Services Executive. My job experience includes negotiation, financial pricing, contracts, management and planning.

Please tell us a little bit about your community involvement efforts, if any.

I have served on Shrewsbury Council since 2015 after serving several years on the Shrewsbury Planning Board. In addition to currently serving as Council President, I am also the Chairman on the Finance Committee and Insurance & Benefits Committee, member of the Negotiating Committee and liaison for emergency planning.

Additionally, I am currently a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician and President of the Shrewsbury First Aid Squad. I have been an active member of the First Aid Squad since 2005 and have held the positions of Captain, 1^st Lt and 2^nd Lt.  I have been active in scouting. Over the years I have served as a Webelos Leader for Cub Scouts, Den Leader for Boy Scouts and Scout Master of Troop 50 from 2006-2009.  I have also coached baseball and soccer teams through Shrewsbury Recreation.

Party affiliation: Republican

How important is party affiliation to you? What does it mean to you to be a member of your party?

At the local level I find that political affiliation does not play large role in the workings of the government. However, I do believe in financial planning, lower taxes and smaller government.

Do you have a role model in public life? Who and why?

I would say my parents who taught me the difference between right and wrong, to volunteer and give back, and enact change through action.

Why are you running for office?

I am running for re-election to continue fighting for Shrewsbury’s taxpayers. As a member of Council, I will continue to work to improve services to our residents, control expenses, and maintain Shrewsbury as a special place to live and raise a family.

What are the most pressing issues facing the town, and how do you plan to address them?

Reducing property taxes and fiscal planning. The only way to achieve real reduction in taxes is to explore every opportunity for sharing and consolidating municipal services. Additionally, it is imperative that all fiscal decisions are not only made with an eye towards their immediate impact, buts its impact in the future.

What if any specific initiatives can voters expect from you if you are elected?

As Chairman of the Shrewsbury’s Finance Committee, I have developed a sustainable 25 year plan for road repaving and capital spending. This plan will ensure planned and controlled spending going forward. As Chairman of the Insurance & Benefits Committee, a plan was put in place to save tens of thousands of dollars in employee healthcare premiums. Additionally, I have worked to reduce spending through shared services and automation while maintaining or improving services to our residents. I will continue to examining sensible ways to control costs and will ensure all options are considered to control expenses.

If there’s anything you’d like to add, please do so here:

It has been a privilege to serve a community which has given so much to my wife, sons and daughter. I have enjoyed meeting the residents of Shrewsbury while campaigning for re-election and would be honored to serve another 3 years as a member of Council in our great town.

The Shrewsbury ballot, which also features elections for seats on the Red Bank Regional and borough school boards, can be found here. Polling places are listed by district below.