Westfield Council Candidate Profile: Linda Habgood

Westfield NJ

18 October, 2021

12:43 PM

Description

WESTFIELD, NJ — Are you ready for the Nov. 2 Westfield mayor and council elections? Westfield runs under an unusual form of government in which the governing body consists of a mayor and eight-member Town Council. Half of the council seats are up for election this November. Fewer than 5 percent of New Jersey towns run under this "special charter" form of government. Democratic Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle and four incumbent members of the Town Council will face a Republican slate led by former 2nd Ward Councilwoman JoAnn Neylan, who is running for mayor. READ MORE: Two Slates Will Vie For Westfield Mayor/Council Spots Brindle will run with councilpersons Linda Habgood, Mike Dardia, David Contract, and Dawn Mackey, known as the Westfield Together team. Neylan's slate consists of Amanda Como, Denise Garrett, Shawn Mullen, and James Restivo. Here's Habgood's responses: Age (as of Election Day) 55 Party Affiliation Democrat Family Gary Zanfagna, husband and sons Philip Zanfagna (22) and Andrew Zanfagna (20) Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? no Education BA, College of William and MaryMBA, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania Occupation Emerging Markets Financial Advisor, 23 yearsProject and Structured Finance Lender, 8 yearsInternational Credit Auditor, 2 years Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office Councilwoman, Town of Westfield Ward 1 2018- present Campaign website [email protected] Why are you seeking elective office? To continue to serve my community while utilizing the management, finance and advisory skills learned over the course of my career, and to further advance my commitments to the residents of Westfield regarding historic preservation, long-range planning, mental health awareness, public safety and smart redevelopment. The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it. to diversify the tax base, and I will work on achieving this through my continued support and involvement in smart redevelopment efforts. What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post? My experience in the office and professionally. If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency) Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform. Protection of the environment, improving our parks and fields, and inviting residents (particularly our youth and seniors) to get involved in commissions and committees. What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job? I have 33 years of experience as a finance professional and emerging markets consultant, and over the past 3.5 years I have translated these skills into tangible benefits to the residents by lowering costs wherever possible, and investing the town's surplus into capital improvements and equipment that improve quality of life. The best advice ever shared with me was: Underpromise and overachieve. What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions? I would be honored to serve the Town of Westfield for a second term, and am excited to continue my work to put taxpayer dollars to best use, preserve the history of our town, and utilize my professional experience and skills financing public-private partnerships to guide the town in smart and far-sighted redevelopment.