Pair will bypass screening process; Say Hayes a far superior choice for Mayor

“Unfortunately, Council President Moench and his allies have chosen to bitterly divide our local Republican Party,” said Councilwoman Henderson-Rose.  “Make no mistake, this primary challenge to Mayor Hayes has nothing to do with policy, and everything to do with politics.  Running Bridgewater is a complex job.  When choosing who should be our Mayor, experience matters, temperament matters, results matter.  Dan Hayes is far and away the superior candidate for Mayor and running on the other ticket was not something I would consider.”

Mayor Hayes and Councilwoman Henderson-Rose said political newcomer Meena Arvind would be a breath of fresh air on the Council.  In addition to her leadership of the P.T.O, Arvind is a substitute teacher in the Bridgewater School District, the married mother of two boys, and an Executive Board Member of the Indian Association of Greater Somerset County (IAGSC).

“My husband and I stress the importance of public service in our home and with our children, so the opportunity to potentially serve on Township Council was one I could not pass up,” said Arvind, who earned her B.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of Arkansas and her Executive M.B.A from Texas Woman’s University.  “We live in a great town, thanks in large part to the efforts of people like Mayor Hayes and Councilwoman Henderson-Rose.  As a newcomer to politics, I am eager to bring a fresh perspective and new leadership to the challenges facing our community with the goal of making our town an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”

Councilwoman Henderson-Rose praised Mayor Hayes’ record and urged voters to see through the anonymous personal attacks already emanating from allies of Council President Moench.

“I am proud to work alongside Mayor Hayes to cut taxes this year and deliver the lowest municipal property tax rate in Somerset County, while still investing in key quality of life priorities like open space, public safety and infrastructure,” said Henderson-Rose, whose accomplishments include the acquisition and preservation of more than 120 acres of land at Camp Cromwell, the former Wemple Property, and the former Hancock property.  “Dan, Meena and I have diverse set of experiences and perspectives that we bring to this team, but also a common vision for keeping our town a model for others to follow.”

Mayor Hayes praised Henderson-Rose and her service to the town, and called the Henderson-Rose/Arvind ticket “dynamic, diverse and deserving of support.”

“Councilwoman Henderson-Rose isn’t one of those people who actively seeks the limelight or flashy headlines, but from her leadership on historic preservation – including protecting the Lane-Voorhees House on Milltown Road – to her efforts to save the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter, she is someone who cares deeply and fights fiercely for the things she believes in.  I am fortunate to call her a governing partner and a good friend,” said Mayor Dan Hayes.  “Together with Christine and Meena, I am confident the next four years in Bridgewater can be our best ever.  I could not be more energized by this ticket.”

Henderson-Rose was formerly a Director at the Somerset County Office of Youth Services.  She also works for the University of Phoenix, teaching Bachelor level courses online in Psychology. She is active with Somerville Elks Lodge #1068 and is a founding member of the Friends of Bridgewater History.  She received her B.A. in English from Hartwick College in New York and her Master’s in Guidance & Counseling from Rider University.