Full Endorsements & Statements of Support for 2025 Maplewood Township Committee Primary Candidates

Longtime residents Jane Collins-Colding and Max Kravitz are vying for one nomination in the Democratic primary election for Maplewood Township Committee on June 10, 2025 (early voting June 3-8). No Republican has filed to run in the primary. Each candidate has received endorsements from community members as well as current and past Township Committee Members.

Collins-Colding has received endorsements by Maplewood Mayor Nancy Adams, Deputy Mayor Mali Herman, Maplewood Township Committee Member and former Mayor Vic De Luca, and the Maplewood Democratic Committee. Kravitz has received endorsements from Maplewood Township Committee Member and former Deputy Mayor Deborah Engel and former Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee.

The following endorsements are from community members who submitted endorsements by the May 31 deadline. For more, follow Village Green election coverage here. 

Endorsements for Max Kravitz:

My family and I moved to Maplewood in November, 1998. Our two grown children are graduates of Clinton, SOMS, and CHS. We have seen Maplewood change a good deal for the better in that time. Max Kravitz would be a good steward of our collective future.

Max is a lifelong Maplewoodian, having been born and raised here. He is truly ‘wise beyond his years,’ and would represent the interests of young people and older people as well, with a mix of honesty, optimism, creativity and pragmatism that is needed as we work together to combat gentrification, and the relentless pursuit of profit on real estate to the exclusion of all else. Affordable housing is vital to preserving a healthy economic mix in our community.

I am proud to say, I’ve seen a lot of yard signs in the distinctive green-and-white popping up! Let’s give Max a chance to represent us all.

Dick Lunde, Maplewood

—

I’m voting for Max Kravitz for Township Committee because he has a plan to make Maplewood’s streets safer. Every day, our community faces the consequences of unsafe roads—car crashes, injured pedestrians, and people on bikes put at risk due to reckless driving. It’s time we make street safety a priority for everyone who lives, walks, runs, bikes, and drives in Maplewood.

Martin Ceperley, Maplewood

__

—

I’ll be voting for Max Kravitz this primary season because of his focus on transportation, complete streets in particular. It’s not only an issue that impacts our safety, environment, and local economy, but also the independence of our kids. The steady drumbeat of traffic violence, of students hit by cars heading to school, is a policy failure. Max has put forward a family-friendly safe streets vision to address it.

Rob Howley, Maplewood

 

Endorsements for Jane Collins-Colding:

I support my wife Jane because she’s tough, and a defender of the unfortunate, an unwavering advocate for what’s right, and a formidable woman who’s unafraid to champion causes even when the likelihood of success seems remote. Although Jane is a strong and determined woman, I’ve seen how tender-hearted she can be, especially towards our young people who often have little in the way of mentorship, prospects or hope. I’ve been a witness (and occasional sidekick) to Jane’s accomplishments, which often defy reasonable expectations: I frequently say about my wife that she does things she’s got no business doing. With all due respect to the town’s current leadership, if Maplewood is fortunate enough to have Jane elected to the Township Committee, this town will really go places.

Russell Colding, Maplewood

—

Jane Collins-Colding will be a strong asset on the Maplewood Township Committee. She has 30 years of experience running organizations, managing budgets and bringing people together.  She is the founder of Feed2000 charity, is an entrepreneur, and knows how to motivate people.

Gail Safian, Maplewood

—

Rarely in my twenty years involvement in Maplewood politics have I met someone as accomplished as Jane Collins-Colding who wishes to serve on the Maplewood Township Committee. A successful businesswoman and entrepreneur, Jane’s philanthropic pursuits have also led to the building of schools and orphanages in Liberia and Kenya. She has been a powerful activist on behalf of Black entrepreneurs, and on top of all that, has raised her own five children and an amazing twenty foster children! We need more practical problem solvers who take action and know how to get things done.

Ian Grodman, Maplewood

Chair, Maplewood Democratic Committee and former Vice Mayor, Maplewood

—

I got to know Jane through the Maplewood Democrats, where she jumped in right away to help out with get out the vote and with many other activities, big or small, even when she knew that her work would go unrecognized. Jane’s dedication to her community and to serving others is unparalleled. She has shown herself to be a real leader in whatever she does, and her extensive resume speaks for itself. I’m positive that she will be a reasoned, active, and innovative member of our Township Committee.

Rebecca Scheer, Maplewood

—

Jane Collins-Colding has the experience, insight, and tenacity to be a powerful force on Maplewood’s Township Committee. Her unique blend of personal and professional experience gives her the perspective and skills needed to lead with both empathy and effectiveness. She leads with kindness and conviction and understands the issues that matter to our town. I fully support her candidacy and know she’ll serve with integrity and heart.

Gloria Gomez, Maplewood

—

I’d like to offer my strong support to Jane Collins-Colding for Township Committee. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jane since I became a District Leader (District 4) in Maplewood in January of this year. Jane is a smart, compassionate and experienced leader who has so much to offer to offer our town. She is eager to engage with the people of Maplewood to find ways the town can respond to our needs as a community.

Kate Reilly, Maplewood

—

As a studious individual with a zeal and courage to speak up and fight for what I believe in, I’m confident in the impact that Jane Collins-Colding  will have as a member of the Township Committee of Maplewood. Speaking with someone who exudes confidence and a surety in her cause, stood out to me as a 19-year old college junior, aspiring to become a corporate lawyer. I’m looking forward to seeing a woman whose words can shake and command the voices of the ignored to be heard!

Timmi Chris Pernell, Newark

—

Jane Colding has created many avenues for people in need, initiating food and clothing drives for all ages, using a variety of resources and community volunteers. She has an open mind and open heart, ready to get in the trenches for positive change for this community and beyond. We need a person like Jane Colding who is ready to put in the work with the Maplewood Township Committee.

Robin Van Ness, Maplewood

—

I’ve gotten to know Jane as a fellow member of the Maplewood Democratic Committee, and her commitment, competence and warmth have always been very clear to me.

Jane isn’t just committed to the Democratic Party, she is committed to protecting Democracy itself, which couldn’t be more important.  And she is a dynamo, so when it comes to keeping Maplewood moving forward as a strong community, she will get the job done.

I look forward to Jane’s work on the Township Committee, and I urge readers to give her their vote.

Stephen Sigmund, Maplewood

—

I have known Jane Collins-Colding for over fifteen years. Jane is someone who is very loyal. She is warm, caring and solution oriented who advocates for the less fortunate. I believe that she will do the same if elected.

Angela Campbell, North Plainfield

—

I am voting for Jane Collins-Colding (Maplewood, NJ) because she has a proven track record of leadership and activism in the South Orange and Maplewood community. She has uplifted others and empowered them to contribute to change.

Anthony Bailey, Maplewood  

—

I have come to know, love and respect Jane and her husband Russell over the past two years as our kids developed a bond in elementary school. I have seen her tireless and selfless commitment to helping others. She takes massive action with genuine positivity and good humor. She is a fiercely confident business woman, caring daughter, a fun, firm and loving mom and a good friend: She is a leader.

Nóra O’Rourke, Maplewood

—

Jane never stops working to help other people—be that the foster children she has raised or the hungry people she has fed or the voters she has worked to empower. She has a deep compassion for others. She seeks to learn from everyone she meets. And she has a long track record of leadership that effects real change.

Paul Stephan, Maplewood

—

Jane Collins-Colding is committed to making a difference in Maplewood and the world we live in. She works tirelessly in furtherance of helping others and connecting people who might otherwise remain isolated. Jane is her authentic self, which includes her kind, caring efforts to come to the aid of those who need her.

Jane gets things done, and she has my vote!

B.A. Williams, Maplewood

—

Over the past two decades I have watched Jane raise her family while caring for 20 foster children, create and manage her community-oriented nonprofit, and spearhead countless humanitarian projects. Jane is smart, brave, tenacious, and extremely compassionate in all she does, and there’s no one I’d rather have fighting for the issues I care about. That’s why I encourage everyone to vote for Jane Collins-Colding for Maplewood Township Committee.

Jillian Stone, South Orange

—

I have the pleasure of knowing Jane personally and professionally for almost 20 years. She is a smart, honest, and kind person.

I truly believe that Jane will be an asset to the Maplewood community. I highly recommend Jane. 

David Bistany, Hoboken

__

Jane is experienced and involved in our community. She has kids in the public school system both elementary and middle school. She understands the challenges we face as parents. She has worked in corporate America as well as owned her own business.

Maria Camelo, Maplewood NJ

__

Knowing and working with candidate Jane Colding in both towns for many years on community and school events has allowed me to witness firsthand Jane Colding’s drive for community involvement, entrepreneurship, creativity and problem solving.

As a businesswoman and hard worker Jane is dedicated and unrelenting when fighting a cause; she has a passion for helping others and a drive to improve the goal or mission at hand.

Jane has a unique gift of working with people while simultaneously motivating others to produce their best work. I believe Jane’s hard work, dedication and commitment would be an asset to the Maplewood Township Committee.

Dr. Georgia Coleman, South Orange

__

Two letter writers did not give their towns of residence. Village Green has reached out for that information and will update when it is received:

Jane Colding has my vote. She is a dedicated wife and a loving mother. She loves and cares for her community. So being elected will give her the chance to do more.

Joseph Brewer

__

I am supporting Jane Collins-Colding for Maplewood Township Committee because she is a woman of integrity. She has a passion for community. She is strong, resilient, and she is for the people. She has experience and EXPERIENCE MATTERS!  She stands strong in her faith and she trusts God…FIRST.

Wendy Thompson, Maplewood