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Montclair Councilor At Large Ted Mattox Announces Bid for Mayor and Forms “Thrive Montclair” Slate

December 11, 2007 - Montclair Councilor At Large Ted Mattox has announced that he will run for Mayor of Montclair in 2008, and he has already set the wheels in motion with three prominent residents under the banner “Thrive Montclair.”

Among his priorities as Mayor, Mattox will look to rein in taxes, promote environmentally progressive initiatives, support educational excellence for all students, restore Montclair’s historic charm, and aggressively pursue an open and transparent municipal government that serves as a model for all of New Jersey. “Montclair residents deserve to get their money’s worth at every level, from the municipality as well as the school district. It’s all about value, communication and execution, a lesson I learned from my tenure as a publisher of Consumer Reports magazine,” he says.

Mattox says he is running because he believes the town needs a Mayor and Council that represent all residents. “This town needs someone willing to take on the tough issues without being afraid to speak his or her mind. I will always respect the ideas and opinions of our residents, and think creatively to solve complex issues, he says.” “Our residents can’t expect significant change if we continue to approach issues with the same tired career politicians who promote ideas that continually deliver failed results. The team we are building will bring diverse experience to the table. Most importantly, this is a team that will commit itself to a high standard of ethics.”

Mattox’s sense of ethics and consumer advocacy were honed during his tenure as Director of Multimedia Publishing and New Business Development for Consumers Union, the not-for-profit publisher of Consumer Reports Magazine. After his election to Councilman At Large in 2004, Mattox left Consumer Reports to launch his own Montclair-based multimedia company, Black Forest Multimedia, a full-service marketing and promotions company. In addition to his duties as a member of the Town Council, he and his wife, Kuae, are very active in the community. Kuae is Co-President of the PTA at Watchung School and a former board member of the Montclair Early Childhood Corporation, which oversees the Montclair Community Pre-K.

Mattox says he has been fortunate in pulling together his new team. “Many folks have asked me to run and want to run with me.” The three residents who have already joined the Thrive Montclair slate are Starr Daniels, Roger Plawker and Mark Reynolds. The group will decide the remaining members of the slate as they continue looking for committed and highly qualified residents.

Starr Daniels is a construction professional who owns her own Montclair-based construction management firm, Daniels Construction Management. Often focused on construction projects that benefit the community, Daniels’ portfolio includes the Essex County Improvement Authority, Newark Public Schools, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and the Turtle Back Zoo. Daniels is also well known for her commitment to the Montclair Public Schools. She recently served as Co-President of Montclair’s PTA Council and is a former Co-President of the PTA at Watchung School. An avid community supporter, Daniels has also served on the Advisory Board of the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE), the Benefit Committee for Montclair Economic Development Committee (MEDC), and the Mountainside Hospital Community Benefit Committee. Daniels says, “I was asked to join a slate a few years ago but declined because I do not consider myself a politician. I now see that becoming a member of Montclair’s Town Council would be an extension of my community service. Honesty and sincerity is missing in government. There has also been a lack of respect for the people and their voice. Montclair is full of brilliant people, experts in a vast number of fields. We have a great resource in our citizens and the Town Council should be listening.”

Roger Plawker is a managing partner of the well-known Roseland law firm Walder, Hayden & Brogan. His substantial experience in criminal defense, complex commercial litigation and attorney ethics, as well as his management skills will bring an important professional dynamic to the council. Plawker’s wife, Emily Kline, teaches law at Rutgers Law School-Newark. They have three children, two at Watchung Elementary School, and one in Parkside Montessori preschool. They are members of Nir Tamid in Bloomfield. Plawker has coached baseball in the town league and plays for the Montclair YMCA squash team. He is a life-long resident of New Jersey and has lived in Montclair for ten years. Plawker believes that a community as rich in resources and talent as Montclair is capable of leading the way in all facets of municipal government. Plawker says, “I look forward to working with all Montclair residents and businesses to ensure our resources are wisely distributed and to deliver the quality of services this community deserves.”

Mark Reynolds is Vice President and Counsel of AXIS Reinsurance Company in New York City. Reynolds’ advanced knowledge of financial contracts and insurance will be of great value to the Town Council. Reynolds is also very active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of the St. James Preschool and as chairperson of Watchung Dads, a PTA group of fathers dedicated to family activities and community service. His wife, Damaris, is a principal of East Coast Maternity, which markets maternity apparel nationwide. They have two daughters, one at Watchung Elementary School and the other at St. James Preschool, and are members of the St. Cassian parish. A New York native, Reynolds has called New Jersey “home” for over 20 years, and for the past six years has been proud to say he is a resident of Montclair. Reynolds says he believes in a Montclair that will maintain and enhance its ability to retain its diverse population and charm while attracting new families and visitors through policies promoting fiscal responsibility, transparent government and superior schools. “When taxes go up six or seven percent every year, at some point those at the lower end of the economic ladder and even middle class families are not going to be able to afford Montclair. What happens then? I want to make sure we’re all able to stay and keep Montclair vibrant and diverse. This is our home.”

Consulting with Thrive Montclair is up and coming Democratic strategist Henry de Koninck. Mr. de Koninck is a seasoned political advisor having served as Strategist and Field Director for Senator Nia Gill in 2007, Essex County Field Director for Senator Bob Menendez in 2006, Deputy Field Director for the Essex County 2005 Gubernatorial Election of John Corzine, and Advisor to top Democratic Strategist and County Chief of Staff Phil Alagia.

Thrive Montclair . . . Your Voice, Your Money, Our Future.