Morristown Primaries: Meet Michael Pooler

The Morristown primary election is Tuesday.

Incumbents Michelle Dupree Harris, council president, Toshiba Foster and Michael Elms are being challenged by fellow Dems Michael Pooler, a planning board member, Jessica Williamson, a member of the environmental commission, and Tom Alexander, a former housing inspector. 

No Republicans filed to run for office. Independent candidates have until primary day to file to make the November ballot. 

Last week, We Are United and Organized (UNO), a group of Morristown residents started a grassroots effort aimed at solving problems affecting local communities, free of politics, announced the endorsement of a slate of Democratic Candidates for Morristown Council in the primary election.

Patch asked candidates a set of questions. Here's a look at Pooler's answers:

Pooler, 50, has lived in Morristown more than 15 years.

Current and past occupations that are relevant doing this job if elected

I am the former chairman and current member of the Town Planning Board. I have served on the board for more 10 years and have been involved in most of the planning-review and application-process procedures for most of the new development projects, the redevelopment projects, major or minor site plans, major or minor subdivisions, including variances, facades and alterations to existing commercial, residential and historical Morristown buildings for the last decade.

In my professional life I have more than 20 years experience in mainframe technology including software engineering, systems programming, networks, storage, databases and disaster recovery for companies including ADP, Lockheed Martin, Accenture and the Federal Reserve Bank.

Why are you running?

After many years of being active in political organizing, church activities, youth sports coaching and officiating, I’m ready to use all of my experience to make a bigger difference for Morristown.

I’m a communicator, problem solver and negotiator.  I take pride in delivering superior customer service and I believe meaningful dialogue leads to cooperative solutions. I am accountable, experienced and truly transparent.

I have new ideas of how to use technology to save the town money, improve the delivery of information and increase civic participation and town employees’ productivity.

What are the top three issues facing Morristown and how would you address it, if elected?

1. Traffic
2. Affordable Housing
3. Preserving Morristown’s Historical Character

First, we all know that our town is growing and thriving with new businesses, new housing, and new residents. But it’s also overflowing with before-work, after-work, special-event and holiday traffic.  I believe we need to complete the town-wide traffic study; possible consolidate the number of crosswalks and then implement technologies to synchronize our traffic signals.

Secondly, we must remain vigilant that we create adequate affordable housing for Morristown’s working families, seniors and young professionals. We cannot price them out of the town’s future.

Thirdly, to preserve our town’s historical character, we’ve got to do a better job of educating residents about existing zoning rules. If people want more, or less, of particular kinds of businesses, we have to amend the zoning laws to better reflect want residents want. 

Patch is waiting for return answers from the other candidates