Meet SAAD TOOR

1. We are finally out of the pandemic, but inflation and other costs are still crippling a lot of people and businesses. Talk about how you would make Bridgewater more friendly for business and your take on the crop of warehouses that have been coming before the

planning and zoning boards lately. And also, could you address the new ownership at the mall, and what you would hope to see at that property going forward?

The recent downgrade in the S & P Global report is a clear demonstration of a failure within our local government to effectively address the affairs of our township after the pandemic. The weakened reserves demonstrate the inability and inaction of the management of Bridgewater’s resources and future. This indicator serves as evidence for the consequences of the actions our local government has taken over the course of the last four years. S & P’s designation of Bridgewater from stable to negative is damaging to our reputation as a township. There is no vision to address inflation and costs. Mr. Moench and the councilmen have been fiscally irresponsible in management of affairs by allocating funds towards salaries being raised and establishing a wing like

the Office of Constituent Relations. These decisions, without discourse and bipartisan rule, have led our town to this position. I call on the residents of Bridgewater to hold our elected officials responsible by asking questions and calling them out for tarnishing our S & P Global Rating.

Warehouses add little to our economy, are terrible in terms of traffic and road wear and add nothing to township aesthetics. Our planning and zoning boards should dismiss the proposals of warehouses when they can justifiably do so.

Dan Hayes, Marguerite Baranowski and I have discussed the future of the Mall. If

elected, our plan is to create a committee of residents to discuss, weigh, and propose options. I have an open mind - nothing is off the table. I would support a town-wide referendum to let the voters decide if the proposed solution included residences. I am confident Dan Hayes has the experience and proven record to navigate the challenges of stabilizing our township financials and supporting our local economy. I am looking forward to working in partnership with Dan as Mayor and Marguerite on Council.

2. Since the incident at the mall in February 2022, people have been talking about the police department, concerns over transparency with what officers are doing, etc. But in recent months, there have been new initiatives with the Bridgewater SHIELD program and more. Can you talk about the police department’s relationship with the residents, and how the township can foster good will and keep communication open?

Both trust and transparency in our local government and policing collapsed within our community after the Bridgewater Commons incident made it to the national press. This was a bad look for our township, ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States. I admire our law enforcement for putting their lives on the line, as first responders. The responsibility of this duty and its complexities must be continuously addressed, simulated, studied and supported. Our Bridgewater Police Department should improve partnership with Somerset County’s Sheriff Russo to collaborate on implementing best practices.

While the incident showed training flaws, the municipal response showed a serious lack of community understanding and leadership. Mr. Moench failed miserably by not quickly responding publicly to the community. As a resident I had the chance to witness the protests that took place at the Bridgewater Municipal Complex and I understood the gravity of the divide within our township when I drove past hate signs placed across Route 22. He even canceled council meetings, in effect, hiding from the public and questioning. The result was an escalation of emotions to a national level. Still lacking accountability, Mr. Moench has yet to release the Attorney General’s report of the incident. I am confident, Dan Hayes, would have acted with the needed integrity and accountability so sorely lacking in our current administration. As a councilman, I promise to provide the necessary resources and oversight of the administration to ensure proper training of our officers and building of trust with the community.

The introduction of Bridgewater’s SHIELD Program seems to help the community

acclimate to the work of the Bridgewater Police Department however fails to indicate how our officers can be better equipped with serving the public. Programs like SHIELD may be a step in the right direction however it falls short of providing healing to a community traumatized by the incident at the Bridgewater Commons which the township continues to evade addressing.

3. Although it has been withdrawn, the application for a billboard sign in Bridgewater brought up discussions about aesthetics in the town and the vision for the community going forward. Bridgewater is a very large town with a lot of homes, many big businesses, 5 highways and no real main street area. What is your vision for this community, especially aesthetically, going forward?

The petition against the billboard sign has demonstrated the collective voice of the peoples across our municipality. Bridgewater residents have indicated that

advertisements being displayed on municipal property is not aesthetically pleasing for our township. The light pollution from such a monument will rob the beautification of Bridgewater. The distraction on the highway would be a safety hazard for our law enforcement and new drivers, our high school students, as the exit is in close proximity to both the Bridgewater Municipal Complex and Bridgewater-Raritan High School. I have spoken out against the proposed sign at a planning board meeting in order to share my voice in protest with the residents of Bridgewater. I am glad the application for the monument has been withdrawn, “for now”. I do not see it being of any benefit to our township.

Bridgewater is a unique suburb for having so many highways. It is an epicenter of New Jersey. Although we do not have a main street, Bridgewater’s divisions offer niche experiences for residents across Finderne, Green Knoll, Martinsville, and Bradley Gardens. As a resident for the last four years, I have enjoyed Wawa Coffee in Finderne, Hills of Herat’s Kebabs in Martinsville, and stopping by at the Green Knoll Grill for live music. My vision for our community is promoting the experiences that encompass the best of Bridgewater. I believe that the Bridgewater Commons must be examined to reappropriate the spaces through smart development.

4. Can you tell me about your background, schooling, how long in

Bridgewater, past political service, other organizations you are a part

of?

I am a native of New England and was born and raised in Connecticut. I have resided in Bridgewater for four years and chose to settle here after being abroad. I taught in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, and completed graduate work in Europe, United Kingdom, over the course of three years.

I did my undergrad and initial masters at the University of Connecticut in Political Science and Education: Curriculum and Instruction, respectively. I completed my second masters at Oxford University’s St. Antony’s College from the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies. I specialized in Modern South Asian Studies with a focus on international relations, history, and politics.

I currently serve as an upper school world history teacher, middle school soccer coach, affinity group advisor, and form dean at the Pingry School. I am also a faculty member at Sacred Heart University where I have lectured on South Asian Politics with the Department of Government and Politics. I have been an instructor for Stanford University’s Bing Program in the United Kingdom and was a lecturer at the University of Connecticut’s Olli Program. I was inspired to be in public service in the aftermath of completing my legislative internship at the  Connecticut State Capitol for the President of the State Senate, Don Williams, in 2013, while completing my undergraduate studies.

5. Anything else you wanted to say to the residents if you were to be

elected/reelected?

Dan Hayes, Marguerite Baranowski and I will put resident' concerns before politics, restore fiscal stability and accountability, attract revenue generating, sustainable businesses (not warehouses and billboards), work with our schools, not against them, and provide the open and honest government you deserve! I will work for the residents of Bridgewater, not politically connected cronies, to improve our road conditions, include all stakeholders; voices when making decisions, restore true fiscal accountability, and seek smart development opportunities.

I bring a fresh, diverse and worldwide view to Bridgewater through my life experiences. As an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut, I had the opportunity to serve as a legislative intern for the President of the Connecticut State Senate, Don Williams, at the Connecticut General Assembly in the Spring of 2013. I learned the value of really listening and taking notes in public hearings, conducting constituent relations, and diving deep into legislative research. While doing my second Master's at Oxford University in England, I refined my qualitative proficiencies of engaging with people and voicing their perspectives in my writings. I seek to use these skills as a Township Council member in Bridgewater while putting constituent relations at the top of my agenda. I want to bring the concerns of the people to center stage and voice their perspectives. Our council should also allow residents more time than 120 seconds to share their opinions as I believe in the value of such insights as opposed to it being treated as a digression from the discussion among the council members.