TOWN-WIDE LETTER: Jen Explains Why She Is Running For Mayor

By Jen Blumenstock |  Town-wide Letter Delivered on August 13, 2022

My name is Jennifer Blumenstock and I am running for Mayor of Garwood.

For those who I may have not met yet, I’d like to introduce myself and tell you a little about me. I am a Rutgers graduate and a certified teacher, having taught in the Paterson Public Schools and Hoboken. Since I moved to Garwood from Clark over 13 years ago, I’ve been involved in many volunteer organizations.  I was Vice-President of the Garwood PTA, am a longtime member of the Education Foundation of Garwood, the current President of the Garwood Lions Club, and Founder of the Garwood Green Team.  For the past six years, I’ve also been your Councilwoman.  During my tenure, I’ve chaired the Streets Committee, worked on the Police Committee, Buildings and Grounds, and been the Senior Citizen Club’s liaison to the Council. 

The most important job I’ve ever had though, is of course mom to my two daughters, Lena and Cecelia.  In fact, they are the reason I ran for Council back in 2016.  I wanted to make sure the small town we chose to raise them in continued to be one we would choose over and over again.  They are also ultimately the reason I am choosing to run for Mayor.  They’ve now seen firsthand the time and effort it takes to make things like a new Hartman Park happen. Or how challenging it can be to make the tough decisions and negotiations on projects like Vermella and North Avenue (Paperboard).  But they’ve also seen how rewarding this job has been for me.  How I’ve loved meeting and getting to know the residents, from children to seniors, and helping them as best as I can.  So when Mayor Sara Todisco decided to step back at the end of her term, my family and I resoundingly decided it was time to take all of this experience and make it work for Garwood. 

During the next few months, you will hear from me as well as my running mates, Councilman Marc Lazarow and Clarissa Nolde, about not only our past accomplishments, but the specific ideas we have for Garwood to keep it moving forward on the right track.  Our full platform can be seen on our website, togethergarwoodwins.com, and I can’t wait to meet with each of you as I go door-to-door to talk about the things that matter most to you!

I also want to assure the residents of Garwood that this campaign will be a clean campaign. It will be free from personal attacks.  However, what we will do is provide a clear comparison between ourselves and our opponents.  I will also point out the votes or statements where I disagree with them and tell you why.  You deserve to know where we differ so you can make an informed choice in November. I applaud anyone who steps up to run for political office. But it is the experience and collaborative nature of my running mates that I believe makes the difference and sets us apart.  The Blumenstock, Lazarow and Nolde team is the right ticket for Garwood, and I hope to have your support in November.

Thank You,

Jen Blumenstock
Council President
Candidate for Mayor
Mobile: (908) 337-7726
Email: Jen@TogetherGarwoodWins.com