Candidate Statements

Every election season brings a lot of noise — mailers, misinformation, and finger-pointing. I ask you to block it out and focus on what really matters. Over the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of serving and leading all 22,000 Summit residents — with the support of Republicans, Democrats, ...

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This election is about more than politics. It is about the future of Summit, and what kind of community we want to be.Over the past two years, city spending has risen 16%, including “nice to haves” like paddle tennis courts.Meanwhile, basic projects, from sidewalks to playgrounds, have fallen ...

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Bottom line up front - stadium lights for Tatlock Field were approved by the current Summit Council. The contract for the lights has been signed. Now it’s up to Summit leadership to bring the community together and do everything it reasonably can to address the concerns of the Tatlock neighborhood.

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I hope to serve on Summit’s Council in part because I want to bring more neighborliness to town. Our older neighbors have invested, and continue to invest, a lot to make Summit great. Unfortunately, the current Council disbanded Silver Summit, a group that had been dedicated to improving the ...

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Dear Residents,Early voting begins on Saturday, October 25th, and the choice before us couldn’t be clearer. Over the past three years, the Together for Summit team has delivered real results. We have fought overdevelopment and preserved the character of our neighborhoods. We have made Summit safer ...

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This is the story of how Summit saved my life. It is also the story of how I came to run for Summit Council.Last November, on an ordinary morning, my husband, Corey, and I dropped our daughter off at preschool. Then, something happened that changed just about everything for me; a moment in time ...

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Imagine running a business and projecting revenues and expenses for only the next year.Budgeting for a limited period of time like that would be irrational.  Yet, the State of New Jersey operates this way every single year.  If New Jersey systematically considered budget forecasts several years ...

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Hamlet vs. Lasaracina: Facts Over Politics The old firehouse property is one of the most valuable pieces of city-owned land. It sits in the heart of Summit—right next to the YMCA and the Library, two of our community’s most treasured institutions. What happens on that site will shape the character ...

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As someone who has spent 20 years covering scholastic sports, I know how important it is for communities to invest in facilities that reflect the commitment, hard work and pride exhibited by their youth and high school athletes.Tatlock Field is more than just a playing surface — it’s the heart of ...

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Vote-by-mail ballots arrive this week. Your vote matters . . . a lot. Please vote your ballot up and down and get it submitted. Resources on this below.I also want to take this opportunity to get back to the beginning – the ‘why’ of my effort to join Summit Common Council.Living in Summit is a ...

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Public safety is the foundation of a strong community, and in Summit, we’ve made it our top priority. The Together for Summit team has backed that commitment with action. In 2024, we hired two additional police officers, with two more budgeted for 2025. We passed the Resident Protection Ordinance, ...

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Three years ago, against all odds, the people of Ward One put their trust in me. I was a write-in candidate who won by fewer than 40 votes. I promised to be a voice for all of Summit—not for a political party. I’ve kept that promise. My team has always included Republicans, Democrats, and ...

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Three lawsuits have been filed against the City of Summit in response to the Affordable Housing Plan approved by Council earlier this year. If we lose any one of these lawsuits, the results could be catastrophic, dramatically changing the Summit we know and love — impacting our schools, traffic, ...

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I’m Dan Crisafulli, and I’m running for the At-Large seat on Summit’s Common Council.I want to bring to your attention the troubling actions at the latest Council meeting, a striking example of how poisoned our local politics have become. Councilman Kevin Smallwood attacked two of his Council ...

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I’m Dan Crisafulli, and I’m running for the At-Large Seat on Summit’s Common Council. My career has been dedicated to sustainable investment—advising endowments, financial institutions, and family offices. Earlier in my career, I led teams that worked with governments in emerging economies, helping ...

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Our federal government has become a masterclass in chaotic leadership - ignoring constituents, making major decisions without due diligence, evading accountability, and shifting blame. Unfortunately, we are seeing echoes of that dysfunction right here in our own municipal government.Locally, we’ve ...

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The threat of overdevelopment in Summit didn’t end when the Broad Street West (BSW) project was stopped. If anything, it’s resurfacing—and the next set of decisions will determine whether we move forward responsibly or repeat the mistakes of the past.BSW wasn’t just a flawed proposal—it was a ...

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Summit’s downtown is the place to be. We have wonderful locally-owned shops, cafes, restaurants, and more. And we have beautiful public art from Summit Public Art and fabulous programming from Summit Downtown, Inc. How lucky are we?!We need to make smart investments in our downtown to keep it ...

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In August 2022, my wife and I were three months away from our wedding. We had spent the previous few years in a small co-op apartment on Summit Avenue but were looking to find a more spacious environment to begin our life as a married couple. We contemplated our options and ultimately decided to ...

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Bottom line up front - the affordable housing plan created by the Summit Planning Board puts our community at risk of losing control over our development destiny. In addition, the Planning Board is inviting overdevelopment on its watch.  The ProcessBack in October 2024, the New Jersey Department of ...

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https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bb8tsg6wKNI

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On this Flag Day, I was deeply moved by our Council President’s speech about the history and symbolism of the American flag. Recalling September 11th, his voice trembled with emotion as he described the surge of patriotism that united us—not by party or politics, but by shared purpose and pride in ...

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To have a productive community discussion on tough issues like land development and affordable housing law, we need to be open and honest. Councilwoman Hamlet did not share a piece of really important information in her recent statements about affordable housing published on June 6, 2025. I believe ...

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Last week, I visited neighbors along the Salt Brook during one of the heaviest rainfalls of the season and witnessed firsthand the alarming speed and force of the stormwater runoff. The situation is deeply concerning — and I remain committed to advocating for long-term, meaningful solutions.New ...

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I hope to serve on Summit’s Council in part because I want to bring more neighborliness to town. Our older neighbors have invested, and continue to invest, a lot to make Summit great. Unfortunately, the current Council recently disbanded Silver Summit, a group that had been dedicated to improving ...

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Candidate Statement – Councilwoman Delia Hamlet As your current Councilwoman and a proud U.S. Army veteran, I bring a deep sense of service and commitment to my work on behalf of the City of Summit. I was privileged to serve from 2000 to 2004 during Operation Enduring Freedom. That experience ...

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Candidate Statement from Councilwoman Delia HamletSpring Update from Downtown SummitAs the Council liaison to Summit Downtown, Inc. (SDI), I’m proud to share an update on the collaborative efforts underway to keep our downtown clean, green, and welcoming. At the most recent SDI meeting, Annette ...

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Wishing everyone in Summit and beyond a joyful spring season!Passover has passed, but I hope all who celebrated had a meaningful holiday filled with tradition and reflection. Easter blessings to those celebrating today—may this season of renewal bring peace, joy, and time with loved ones.I was ...

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I am honored and deeply grateful for the trust you’ve placed in me to represent Ward 2 on Common Council. This victory belongs to all of us who believe in a stronger, safer, and more vibrant Summit. Together, we’ll work to keep Summit a place where every resident feels heard, valued, and ...

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