Jean Murphy has been fighting for all the people in Vernon long before this election season.
It was 2017 when my family was alerted to the illegal pile of soil and debris that was growing by 30-40 truckloads per day. Long before PAID (People Against Illegal Dumping) was formed, my neighbors sat at my dining room table, and together, we each mapped out several lines of attack. One neighbor focused on getting Congressman Gottheimer's attention. Another assembled a team to find out where the trucks were coming from. A third requested help stopping the dumping from Administration. Another reached out to the town council - specifically, Jean Murphy. Jean got to work almost immediately. Not only did Jean show up to council meetings armed with updates for concerned residents, but she attended Soil Conservation meetings, Freeholder meetings, Highlands Council meetings, and tried to get DEP attention on the issue in any way that she could. This tenacity and dedication resulted in Vernon's own soil dumping ordinance, which was eventually used in court to help stop illegal soil dumping. I am not suggesting that dozens of people involved in this since the mid-teens do not deserve credit. I am saying that one of the fiercest warriors for all of Vernon's taxpayers did not seek credit and did not try to step into the spotlight, and I feel that spotlight needs to be expanded. My neighbors know Jean Murphy was there when we needed local government planning and action.
Filling in the unexpired council term of Dan Kadish, I have had the opportunity to sit in the room when issues are discussed among our elected officials. I can honestly say nobody in the room asks tougher questions than Jean Murphy. In every situation - changing traffic patterns, replacing turf fields, illegal soil dumping, navigating bankruptcy, maintaining our recreation standards, or supporting our first responders - Jean brings experience, research, and knowledge to every issue. Jean Murphy offers dedication, tenacity, sound judgment, and actual plans to accomplish community goals. Regardless of what comes up during council meetings, Jean reminds us all that we are here to do the work of the taxpayer.
As a taxpayer, as a father, and as a neighbor, I enthusiastically support Jean Murphy for Vernon Mayor. I have seen her leadership, vision, and planning first hand. I have watched her stand strong in her convictions and stay true to the taxpayers. Jean Murphy has unmatched current knowledge of every challenge facing Vernon, and the tenacious drive to turn those challenges into opportunities. Now is not the time to go in reverse.
Patrick Curreri
Vernon