I am thrilled to endorse Sheena Collum for South Orange Village President and urge all residents to vote for Sheena in the upcoming municipal election.
A long-time resident of South Orange and graduate of Seton Hall University, Sheena has a demonstrated commitment to this town for fourteen years as an active volunteer. Her enthusiasm, drive and dedication are just what we need in a new leader to build a village spirit that pulls people together and builds on each other’s strengths.
As a Village Trustee, she has worked tirelessly on a myriad of public safety initiatives from pedestrian safety to technology upgrades. She launched the Seton Village initiative that has resulted in a number of new physical improvements and events in a part of town that deserves community investment.
I also love her work with the senior citizens in our town, who now feel that their concerns are being heard and addressed from new bus route for seniors to new activities.
Sheena believes in collaborative decision-making, bringing members of the community into the process, such as establishing stakeholder subcommittees on planning and zoning related matters and initiating a village-wide “code review” to remove antiquated laws that hurt small businesses.
She understands the importance of coordinating with the Board of Education and other municipal governments in advancing not only South Orange’s interests at the county and state levels, but also those of the South Orange-Maplewood school district. During her campaign kickoff she used the phrase, “the success of municipal government is interconnected with that of our school board” and I wholeheartedly agree.
In my mind, Sheena has awakened and renewed our Village spirit during her tenure as Trustee. She is an active promoter and participant in a number of community-wide initiatives (most people contact Sheena to “help get the word out”) and her enthusiasm is truly infectious. Please join me in voting for Sheena and the South Orange 2015 Team – Row Bon May 12.
Donna Smith, Member of the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education
This is an individual endorsement, and does not reflect the position of the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education.
