Mayor Angie Devanney: Margaret Illis & Bill Machado Are the Right Team for Berkeley Heights – Right Now

-Mayor Angie Devanney

I’ve had the privilege of being your mayor for almost five years. We’ve been through some difficult times, but we were able to rise above those challenges because we are always better together. 

Nearly one year into my second term, I’m often asked what my vision is for the next four years. To build on the successes of my first term in office, I will continue to:

• Fight for those residents who may have felt marginalized – our seniors, veterans and people of all backgrounds who want to be heard 
• Grow and support our local business community
• Encourage and advocate for transparency and increased communication with residents 
• Seek out additional financial resources and grants to ease the burden on our taxpayers
• Responsibly manage Township finances
• Address ailing infrastructure and stem decades of flooding issues 
• Preserve our open space and improve our parks
• Treat everyone with respect 

I want to work with people who will keep their own political agenda away from our town government; divisiveness and partisanship have no effective place here. I need people on Council who will work to plan for the future of Berkeley Heights – who will choose collaboration over conflict. I want people who – when they go low, we go high. 

Margaret Illis and Bill Machado are the right people for this Council – right now. 

Bill brings to Council and our government his dedication and passion for animals and the environment. Margaret has decades of volunteerism and experience.  She always fights to make Berkeley Heights a better place to live for all residents. Both will work tirelessly to:

• protect against overdevelopment by ensuring the town engages in smart growth that is planned, thoughtful and balanced, with attention to green space
• Increase pedestrian walkways and bikeways
• Find an appropriate space for a dog park in the downtown area
• Bring more businesses to the area to provide adequate local services for our residents – #ShopLocal #WeLoveLocal
• Ease burdens on existing and new businesses
• Improving our parks
• Maintain our tree canopy and fight against needless/excessive tree removal
• Be respectful of their neighbors and put their work for the community before all else

I am supporting Bill and Margaret because I know they will work for all of us. And I can’t wait to see all of the positivity and ideas they will bring to our Town Council. I hope you will support them this year; vote Illis & Machado for Council, Column A. 

Visit Our 2023 Berkeley Heights Candidates Page to Read More From the Candidates