I have a quick message that I want to make sure gets out to the Cranford community as we prepare for this year’s local election. In this year’s debate as in many past debates, we spent a good portion of time on two key topics for Cranford: redevelopment and flooding. These are issues that we continue to grapple with and there are different visions on how we move forward. We must focus on solutions that put Cranford first and foremost in all development decisions and flood control efforts. I am running to retain my seat on the township committee because we need balance in the discussion over Cranford’s growth and all that it impacts—flooding, schools, taxes and traffic, to name a few. I feel very strongly that diverse opinions are what generate the best solutions. I will work hard to make sure our town’s many voices are appropriately represented and work to build consensus so that the right decisions are made for Cranford. I’m stealing from words I used three years ago during my last campaign because the sentiment remains the same for me and many of our residents. We need to stop selling out to corporate developers. We need to be willing to fight to retain our rights to grow in a way that our town can support, and we need to actively engage at higher levels of government to help us in this fight, as well as for progress toward a regional flood mitigation solution. We need a leader who is not afraid of public input and instead proactively seeks it out; one who will put aside personal and political agendas and offer common sense solutions for ALL of our Cranford residents. I believe having a diverse voice and representation on any committee is essential and I hope I can continue in that role as your Township Commissioner. To that end, please vote for me, Gina Black, for Cranford Township Committee on November 5th.