The essence of my candidacy for Ward 2 Town Council is rooted in a deep love for our home, our neighborhood, and the town of Westfield. I believe now is the right time to give back to a community my family and I plan to be part of for many years to come.

A long-term perspective runs through many of the issues central to my campaign. I’ve spent a great deal of time thinking about what’s best for Westfield, not just over the next one or four years, but over the next 30.

Public safety remains a pressing concern for many of us. We all read the police blotter and hear the stories, car and home break-ins are happening right here in our town. That’s why I want to double down on our commitment to making Westfield the safest town in Union County, maybe even in all of New Jersey.

Let me be clear: I believe the Westfield Police Department is a best-in-class force. They’ve consistently shown professionalism, responsiveness, and a deep commitment to keeping our community safe. My goal is to ensure they have the resources, tools, and support they need to continue doing that.

But public safety is never a “mission accomplished.” Criminals are constantly evolving their methods, and we need to stay one step ahead. Car and home break-ins have reached alarming levels across New Jersey. I want to sit down with our police department and ask: What do you need? What’s working in other towns that we could try here? How do we make Westfield a place where criminals think twice before stepping foot?

One Westfield Place (OWP) is a topic that has divided many in our town. It will be a major part of our downtown revitalization, but like many of you, I’m concerned about the lack of transparency in the decision- making process. One of my neighbors said it best: ‘It feels like they want to turn Westfield into Jersey City or Hoboken.’

I strongly oppose any overdevelopment that threatens to transform our charming town into a generic version of the very cities many of us chose to leave behind. Westfield has a unique character, and it deserves to be preserved.

If elected, I will work to provide greater transparency around this project and make sure residents are genuinely included in the conversation. Let’s start right now. Here are just a few parts of the plan that really grind my gears: As part of the South Avenue Train Station redevelopment, an enormous above-ground parking structure is planned. It is enormous by Westfield standards. While the Mayor has claimed that the latest amended concept reduces the overall scope of One Westfield Place, this parking deck will rise higher than most buildings in town. That doesn’t feel like a scaleback.

We should also keep the Christmas Tree where it is. Many residents don’t realize that a recent rendering of the project doesn’t include the North Avenue Christmas tree at all. Are we really okay with that?

We also need to ask the hard questions about the developer. Is Hudson’s Bay Company, through Streetworks and Saks Global, still the right partner for this project? Will they even be solvent by the time construction is supposed to begin?

When it comes to One Westfield Place, I vow to ask the tough questions. Why are we doing things this way? Is it the best path forward? And if it’s not, what needs to change?

In my view, none of the issues I’ve raised are especially political. While I’m running as a Republican, Town Council is as local as it gets. This is not about party. It is about people. The role of a councilmember is to represent you, to listen, and to be accessible.

I’ve already had the chance to speak with many of you in Ward 2, and I look forward to connecting with even more as the campaign continues. Please ask me the tough questions. Share your thoughts. Make your voice heard.

Together, we can make Westfield the best town it can be—for our children today and for future generations.

Jason Micewicz Candidate, Ward 2 Westfield