2026 Montgomery Township Committee Candidates
No Edits, No Spin: Montgomery Township Committee Candidates Speak Directly to Voters
Headline News Montgomery is committed to providing fair, accurate and meaningful coverage of the 2026 Montgomery Township Committee election. To give voters a clear picture of each candidate’s priorities, values and vision for our town, we prepared an identical set of questions for all four candidates seeking election or re-election.
Every candidate was given the same opportunity to participate. We placed no word limits and have not edited or altered their responses in any way. Two of the four candidates submitted responses. Headline News Montgomery did not receive a response from Chris Venis or George De Sanctis. We note this only to explain why a response from either does not appear among the candidate profiles. No inference should be drawn from their non-response.
What follows are the participating candidates’ answers, published in full to ensure equal representation, transparency and fairness.
Our goal is simple: to give Montgomery residents direct insight into the perspectives of those running to serve our community and to encourage informed decisions at the ballot box.
Candidates appear in alphabetical order.
Doug Herring
The Basics
How long have you lived in Montgomery?
19 years in October
What brought you and your family to Montgomery?
My wife Christine and I met and got married in Los Angeles. When she was offered a job at the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University, we came to New Jersey.
Christine’s parents had lived in Montgomery, and we knew of this amazing town with a very special community and outstanding schools.
My office is here on Wall Street, across from the airport. My two daughters were born here, and they attend Upper Middle School and High School.
How would you serve?
What is the single most important issue facing Montgomery during the next three years, and what would you do about it if elected?
The single biggest issue is protecting Montgomery's tax base as it loses its largest historic ratables. Johnson & Johnson and then Kenvue carried a significant share of the township's commercial tax burden while they operated the Grandview Road campus, but both are gone. New retail like Whole Foods helps offset that, but it does not come close to replacing 257 acres of corporate/industrial ratables.
A developer purchased the property and has filed several lawsuits against Montgomery, including one challenging the township’s data center ban. Regardless of the outcome, Montgomery needs a realistic plan for the site that rebuilds the tax base without adding the traffic, water, and noise impacts residents have already opposed.
If elected, I would support the township's ban on data centers while pushing the committee to work with the developer to find a specific, ratable-generating reuse plan so the township is not relying on one property to solve a structural tax problem again in five years.
What township infrastructure issue do you believe has received insufficient attention, and how would you propose addressing it?
Montgomery runs its own sewer utility with four advanced treatment plants, seventeen pumping stations, and over 56 miles of sewer line, which were first installed decades ago. This system has been in an ongoing improvement for several years. What has not gotten enough public attention is whether the system has capacity to absorb new developments.
If elected, I would push to make sure any pending development does not overwhelm the capacity for our high-quality wastewater treatment. Montgomery discharges into smaller waterways, so the standard must stay very high. In fact, the current improvements are already planned to result in the highest possible quality of wastewater treatment, and we need to make sure this continues.
What, if anything, would you change about the way township government communicates with residents and includes the public in major decisions?
In today's world, everyone faces an overwhelming landslide of information. I believe that the information from Montgomery is often buried and many residents never find out about the important decisions.
When I was a prosecutor, I learned that a jury needs the critical information delivered clearly and repeatedly.
I would apply that same discipline to township communication. Important issues should be highlighted and repeated. Residents should not find out about decisions that may affect their taxes and their town only after the decisions are finalized. We need to highlight critical information clearly and repeatedly, so the residents know how to participate in the decisions.
The Person behind the candidate
What is something about you that Montgomery residents may be surprised to learn?
I have volunteered with Montgomery EMS for over 15 years, and I was the captain at one time.
My oldest daughter just passed the EMT test, and she will be a high school cadet this year.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working or volunteering?
Photography. I have taken photos for my daughter’s teams, which include field hockey, basketball, volleyball, track & field, and flag football.
Finish this sentence: “People who know me well know that I...”
… enjoy talking to people.
Describe yourself in three words—and explain one of them.
Outgoing
Friendly
Curious – I find people interesting and I like to hear their ideas. As part of the township committee, I have listened to and learned a great deal from many people.
Rapid Fire
Favorite subject in school:
Science
A book everyone should read:
That is a hard question for me because I like to read both fiction and non-fiction. I recently read and have been recommending Call Sign Chaos by retired Marine Corp General James Mattis. I learned that he too is an avid reader. In that book he wrote, “If you haven't read hundreds of books, you are functionally illiterate, and you will be incompetent, because your personal experiences alone aren't broad enough to sustain you.”
Instead of saying read one book, I suggest you go to our amazing library and ask our fantastic librarians for several books you should read.
Early bird or night owl:
Night ow
One word that describes Montgomery:
Community
The township job you would most like to try for one day:
I would dream of setting off the fireworks for the Fourth of July celebration.
Patricia Taylor Todd
The Basics
How long have you lived in Montgomery?
My family and I have lived in Montgomery since 2017.
What brought you and your family to Montgomery?
We moved to Montgomery in 2017 as our older son was entering college and our family was ready to downsize. Although we moved from just ten minutes away, we discovered Montgomery as a hidden gem. Like many families, we chose Montgomery because we were looking for a strong community and excellent schools, but we were also drawn to Montgomery’s natural beauty, diversity, open space, and reputation as a thoughtful, family-centered community.
Our experience here also shaped my path to public service. After we relocated, my younger son had a difficult transition into the Montgomery school system. My husband and I had to advocate, ask hard questions, navigate systems, and build the right supports to help him succeed. That experience deepened my understanding that even in a strong community, families need leaders who listen, understand complexity, and know how to help systems work better for people. That is part of why I serve.
How Would You Serve
1) What is the single most important issue facing Montgomery during the next three years, and what would you do about it if elected?
I believe the single most important issue facing Montgomery over the next three years is managing growth — especially land use and long-term community planning — in a way that protects our quality of life.
Montgomery is a beautiful and desirable community, but that also means we must be thoughtful and strategic about development, traffic, open space, infrastructure, affordable housing obligations, recreation, and municipal services. The choices we make about land use, infrastructure, and community planning in the next few years will shape Montgomery for decades.
If reelected, I would continue to approach these issues with practical judgment, transparency, and a focus on long-term impact. That means listening to residents, asking the right questions, working collaboratively with my Township Committee colleagues and township professionals, and making decisions based on facts, values, fiscal responsibility, and the best interests of the community.
My goal is not to stop change. Change is inevitable. My goal is to help Montgomery manage change well, so that we preserve what people love about our town while planning responsibly for the future.
2) What township infrastructure issue do you believe has received insufficient attention, and how would you propose addressing it?
I believe pedestrian safety and traffic-related infrastructure deserve continued and greater attention. Montgomery residents regularly raise concerns about speeding, congestion, walkability, and safe access to schools, parks, businesses, neighborhoods, and community spaces.
This is not just a traffic issue. It is a quality-of-life issue, a public safety issue, and a family issue. Residents should be able to move around town safely, whether they are driving, walking, biking, pushing a stroller, or helping an older family member get around.
I would support continued investment in pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, including sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic-calming measures, improved signage, and safer connections between neighborhoods and key destinations. I would also support working closely with county and state partners where roads or intersections are not fully under township control.
The practical challenge is that infrastructure improvements take planning, money, coordination, and persistence. My approach would be to prioritize the areas of greatest safety concern, seek grants and outside funding where available, communicate clearly with residents about what is possible and what takes time, and keep pushing for improvements that make daily life safer and easier.
3) What, if anything, would you change about the way township government communicates with residents and includes the public in major decisions?
I believe Montgomery has made real efforts to communicate effectively with residents, but there is always room to improve. Local government should not only provide information; it should make information understandable, timely, accessible, and useful.
I would like to see continued improvement in plain-language communication around major decisions. Residents should understand what is being considered, why it matters, what the process is, when they can provide input, and how their feedback will be considered. In my experience, too often, government information is technically available but not easy to digest unless someone already knows how local government works.
I also believe we should continue broadening outreach beyond the residents who regularly attend meetings or follow township updates closely. Montgomery is diverse, busy, and multigenerational. People receive information in different ways. We should use multiple channels, including email, the township website, social media, community partners, public meetings, and targeted outreach when major decisions affect particular neighborhoods or groups.
Public engagement should happen early enough to be meaningful. Residents may not always agree with every decision, but they deserve to feel respected, informed, and heard.
The Person Behind the Candidate
What is something about you that Montgomery residents may be surprised to learn?
Residents may be surprised to learn that I consider my personal theme song to be “I’m Every Woman.” This song fits my personality, my life, and the numerous roles I play: mother, wife, public servant, executive coach, attorney, mediator/arbitrator, community volunteer, problem-solver, and honestly, chief plate-spinner.
I bring seriousness and integrity to my public service, but I also bring humor, energy, and a deep belief that leadership should be human.
What do you enjoy doing when you are not working or volunteering?
When I am not working or volunteering, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, music, good conversation, time near the water, and sitting outside on my deck. My life is full, so I deeply appreciate moments that help me recharge, and spaces that feel beautiful, welcoming, and peaceful.
Finish this sentence: “People who know me well know that I…”
People who know me well know that I am warm but direct, and that I will ask the practical question, find the human issue underneath the surface issue, and always try to help people move forward toward a better outcome.
They also know that I care deeply, I laugh easily, and I am usually thinking three steps ahead.
Describe yourself in three words—and explain one of them.
Collaborative. Practical. Resilient.
I choose “practical” to explain because it is central to how I lead. I believe values matter, but values also have to be translated into decisions, budgets, policies, services, and results. Whether I am working as an attorney, mediator, executive coach, or elected official, I try to focus on what will actually help people, reduce unnecessary conflict, and move the work forward.
Rapid Fire
Favorite subject in school:
English and French.
A book everyone should read:
The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.
Early bird or night owl:
I wish I could say early bird, but by life necessity, I’m mostly a night owl.
One word that describes Montgomery:
Rooted.
The township job you would most like to try for one day:
No one should get nervous, but maybe Township Administrator! It would be interesting to experience, up close, leading the day-to-day complexity of coordinating the operations, people, priorities, and problem-solving that keep our local government running.