Candidate Statements
By JENNIFER GRANA
November 4, 2018
It’s hard to believe that it is almost election day. It seems like yesterday we were eagerly submitting our petitions to run for the Board of Education and taking commemorative pictures in front of the Sussex County Clerk’s Office. It has been quite an incredible experience. We have seen a lot ...
Jen Grana and I have spent the past few months knocking on doors, talking with Sparta residents,and proactively engaging in conversations with residents of all types about our district schools. Speaking with our community about the importance of Sparta's public schools has been so informative. It ...
Hello Sparta, My name is John Finkeldie and I am running for Sparta Town Council. I have always enjoyed living in Sparta and I’m very proud to claim Sparta as my home for the last 25 years. Married 27 years to my wife Valerie, we are very proud to have been fortunate enough to raise two ...
I have been honored to serve the residents of Sparta as a member of the Township Council for the last eight years. During this time my priorities have centered around enhancing public safety efforts, through our Police, Fire Dept, Office of Emergency Management and Ambulance Squad in the most ...
Hi! My name is Susan Hannon and I am running as a write-in candidate for Sparta Town Council. I have been fortunate to live in Sparta for over 18 years. My husband, Kevin and I have raised our sons here. One is a freshman in college and the other is a junior at Sparta High School. During the ...
My name is Dave Smith, and I am honored to be running for Sparta Town Council. I am running alongside two other candidates, John Finkeldie and Molly Whilesmith. We are urging you to get out and vote, and we ask that you vote for us. We are committed to Sparta and all of you who live in ...
When it comes to issues that impact our community, the size of your business or the size of your home should not matter. We all deserve a voice and a seat at the table. Everyone should be informed about important matters and decisions of the council before they happen. And whether your share of ...
Growing our local economy may mean different things to different people. For me, I see it as making sure every store and office is rented. For many years I had owned commercial rental property. As a result, I am very sensitive to every ‘for rent’ sign I pass by. I notice every one of them. I ...
Bus safety is an issue regularly discussed each school year as a consistent concern for many parents. This year the main concerns center around the youngest students. Having a K-2 elementary school introduces challenges when oldest children on the bus are 8 or 9 years old. Typically, older ...
I have a unique skill set that I feel prepares me well for a position on the Sparta Township council. I provide project management, process improvement, and analysis of data services. Plainly stated, I listen to people, understand the problems, design a solution, and implement it. My experiences ...
When I think about a typical Sparta family, a few attributes come to mind: family-oriented, hard-working, community focused, values education and a strong appreciation for our great town. Did I mention BUSY? As a Sparta mother of 4 daughters ranging in ages from 6-21, I often observe that we are ...
If this scene on Route 15 is familiar to you, you’re not alone. The Township’s approval for of a large commercial and residential development on that stretch is going to make the matter worse. If your life is impacted by this, I hear you. I’m on your side. I will make it a priority for the ...
Dawn Fantasia, Republican candidate for Sussex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, running with Josh Hertzberg, submitted the following biographical information. What is your educational/professional background? My name is Dawn Fantasia, and I am 44 years old. I grew up in Ogdensburg and ...
Our property taxes are too high. That’s a truism, of course. The Township’s share of our property taxes has increased by almost fifty percent since 2005. That is not a sustainable pace. We can all agree that it is important to make smart investments in our infrastructure, and to a large extent ...
We are so fortunate that Sparta is consistently a high achieving school district. We can take great pride in our schools but still look to continue to improve.With a positive outlook, but a sharp eye on improvement, so much can be accomplished, and this is what the residents of Sparta deserve.
After attending the Strategic Planning session organized by the Sparta Township School District Administration, I was reminded of how valuable public input can be. It is so inspiring to see so many people willing to take the time out of their very busy lives to engage in something that they believe ...
In March, I was fortunate enough to be appointed to the Sparta Township Board of Education when a seat was vacated by a sitting board member. In six-months time, I have sat on the Board while we addressed the budget, calendar, school safety, and Chromebooks. I have heard arguments for and against ...
Sussex County Freeholder candidate, Patrick Curreri, Vernon resident since 2012 submitted the following biographical information. Patrick Curreri, 40, has been married to Joe for 16 years with three children. He has his bachelor’s degree with a focus on Psychology from Montclair State ...
My name is Dan Chiariello, and I am seeking position on the Sparta Township Council in 2018. I do so out of a desire to serve this community. You can learn more about my candidacy at www.facebook.com/dan4sparta . I was born and raised in Sussex County. My family and I moved to Sparta twenty ...
My name is Dave Smith and I am running for Sparta Town Council. I have resided in Sparta for over forty-five years. I have been married for forty-two years, have two wonderful and successful daughters, and four grandchildren. I have decided to run for the Council because Sparta has always provided ...
I am Molly Whilesmith and I running for re-election to ensure continuity in our local government. Our current team has worked hard to eliminate unnecessary spending and ensure stellar services to our residents. I will continue to work hard for Spartans to ensure our town remains a great place to ...
One of a town’s greatest strengths should be its public school system. It attracts new home buyers, businesses flourish, and property values increase. Most importantly, it educates our children for a lifetime of success in whatever path they choose to follow. I am running for the Sparta Board of ...
I have dedicated 50 years of my adult life to education. I have a bachelor’s degree in music education from Westminster Choir College in Princeton. I taught for 38 years in the public school system in Old Bridge NJ, Mountain Lakes NJ and for 28 of the 38 years in Sparta. I love teaching as much ...
When I think about the reason why I was motivated to run for the Sparta Township Board of Education, it really all came down to a simple concept: collaboration. According to the New Jersey School Boards Association, “The function of the school board is not to run the schools, but to see that they ...
My motivation to serve as a member of the Board of Education comes from a firm belief in the public school system. I believe the board must take input from all groups and weigh all the facts before making a decision. A school board member must build public understanding, support, and ...
A trustworthy governing body sets expectations and affords everyone an opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns. As a member of the council, I will make sure the Township works with local print and online news outlets, and uses social media to make everyone aware of important discussions ...
My name Dan Chiariello, and I would like to introduce myself to you as a candidate for the Sparta Township Council. There are a number of goals I would like to achieve if I am fortunate to be elected. I will present these in brief posts and videos as we get closer to Election Day. I invite you to ...