Not only is Casey Collins a true-blue Democrat, she’s a true-blue friend.

 

As a freshman at UC Santa Barbara, during the first week of college, Casey met two men who would both become loves of her life. One would become her husband, but that story is for another day. The other would become a lifelong friend, named Jim Woltmann. She calls Jim, “a true gentleman, the smartest and most gentle soul.” Casey smiles when she speaks of him. 

 

“He was a long and lean 6’4” and a big cyclist. He loved music, literature, and nature. He loved discussing the meaning of life, what was important and mattered. He often invited me to have a glass of port in the evening, and we would talk for hours,” she says.

 

Casey and Jim stayed in touch through the years, in fits and starts. They sometimes spoke, and other times shared interesting articles on topics as far-reaching as mushroom hunting! Jim attended Casey’s wedding, yet he never married. He was both a romantic and kind individual who did not have a lifelong partner.

 

After Jim’s untimely passing a few years ago, his sister sent a letter to Casey, informing her of some funds Jim had left in a trust for her. The surprising thing was, he did so with no note or explanation. Intuitively, Casey knew that he had done so because of all the deep wide-ranging conversations they’d had. She knew he wanted her to make a difference in the world with the funds on his behalf. And that she did!

 

Casey thought long and hard about what to do with the trust. She ultimately decided to put her intentions “out there” in the universe. Not long after, she found herself attending the February 2025 BTDC meeting, where Steve Katz, Executive Director of the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, addressed local Dems and spoke to the food insecurity experienced by many residents. In addition, he spoke about his organization’s pressing need to raise funds for a protective canopy to protect people waiting in line for food from inclement weather.

 

Steve had a need, he had a specific plan to address the need, and unbeknownst to him, he had a benefactor eager to make a difference in Casey Collins. “I thought this was perfect!” she said. “This is something our friendship was meant to address. To protect people, to welcome them and provide comfort in their time of need.” She felt the proposed structure, in a cold industrial park, would be such a blessing to the community and moved forward to fund its construction in her dear friend Jim’s name.

 

Casey feels grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the Food Bank Network, and following the canopy’s dedication, agreed to become a BTDC committeeperson, representing District 14. She is very much aligned with the BTDC’s mission and hopes to help create a greater sense of community among Democrats and independents in town. She is eager to get to know more people in her neighborhood as well, and to combat the lack of connection that many people feel.

 

While Casey and her family have lived in Bernards since the early 2000s, she feels there are many likeminded people she has yet to connect with and hopes to do so by becoming more active with the BTDC. When you see her at the next meeting or gathering, be sure to say hello. She’s admittedly shy and quiet, but very open to spreading a commitment to democratic values in memory of her friend, Jim Woltmann.

 

– Jen Aaron

There’s a very impactful group of Democrats in town that flies beneath the proverbial radar – Bernards Township Progressive Women. The cohort first came together as a very small private Facebook group started by Lisa Bahler in 2016 and grew exponentially after Trump’s first election. Today, the Progressive Women’s page boasts more than 500 followers.

 

Initially virtual, the team began meeting in person monthly in Feb 2017, after the first Women's March in DC. Meetings were regularly attended by about 30 people, all of whom thought they were alone as Democrats in Basking Ridge. At one of these meetings, Karen Haase-Gray volunteered to become an admin to help Lisa in vetting the growing Facebook group. Susan Goldsmith ran the meetings, and the group created a list of goals and objectives. 

 

Their primary missions were to unseat Leonard Lance from NJ-7, elect a Democratic governor, flip some county offices and get some like-minded people on the Township Committee. Lots of women volunteered to help. Although the BTDC was dormant at that time, Nancy D'Andrea stepped up and resurrected it. Others such as Jennifer Kluger spearheaded postcard writing events to help get out the vote. Many people, like Suzanne Glassman and Laurie Saloman, worked in local campaigns. 

 

While the group’s objectives didn’t become realized right away, slowly but surely, they assisted the BTDC in effecting change. Key victories included electing Joan Bannan to the Township Committee, Tom Malinowski to NJ-7, Phil Murphy as governor, and Shanel Robinson and Sara Sooy at the county level. Today, headed up by Claudia Hodges, Karen Haase-Gray and Lisa Bahler, Bernards Township Progressive Women continues to help fuel the BTDC’s efforts.

 

There’s much to celebrate these days, too, as Bernards elected candidates from Mikie Sherrill on down the ticket to the first Democratic majority on the township committee in nearly 90 years. If you’re interested in joining this group, please see their Facebook page and apply for inclusion. https://www.facebook.com/groups/BernardsTwpProgressiveWomen

 

– Jen Aaron

Hello! I hope everyone enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving. We were in Mendham at the home of my sister Amalia, Committeewoman, Mendham Township. This was her 30th year hosting and underscores how time flies. In this season of thanks, I want to express my gratitude to Bernards Township residents Brett Hodges, John Tompkins, and Elizabeth Graner, for giving their time and talent to run for election, and to Bernice “Tina” Jalloh for seeking reelection. All four won their respective races, and I am excited to welcome Brett and John to share the dais with me, Committeewoman Jennifer Asay and Deputy Mayor Andrew McNally in the new year.

 

I will again thank the Bernards Township Democratic Committee and the campaign team for supporting the candidates in their successful race for elected office. In addition, my appreciation to Bill McMahon for running on the Republican ticket for Township Committee, and to Committeeman David Tancredi, who was not elected and will be stepping down. Committeeman David Tancredi and Mayor Janice Fields (who chose not to seek reelection), were both long-time volunteers in the community. Janice began her civic service to the Township in the late 90’s and David, for the past ten years. It was a pleasure serving with both, and I wish them well in their future endeavors.

 

During November the Township Committee held two meetings. At the November 11 meeting, the Township Committee passed Resolution #2025-0395 - Authorizing the Township of Bernards Planning Board to Undertake a Preliminary Investigation for the Redevelopment of 99 Lord Stirling Road.  Both Committeewoman Jennifer Asay and I voted against the resolution.  A November 18 article in the Bernardsville News provides context on the Resolution and the discussion and vote from the various Township Committee members. 

 

Net-net, I recommended that we step back and take a broader view of the set of lots in the Township that might be considered for development, and think strategically about what future development could be, in alignment with our Master Plan. This approach would give us more data as to whether classifying any of these lots, including, among others, those in this Resolution, as “areas in need of redevelopment” for the community. Unlike meeting our Affordable Housing obligations, we are not time bound. For these reasons I voted no on the resolution. As of this writing, the Planning Board has not set a date to review 99 Lord Stirling Road.

On November 6, I joined Mayor Janice Fields, several New Jersey elected officials, and representatives from various agencies, to celebrate the kickoff of a new shuttle service for Veterans, which will run from the Lyons train station to the Veterans Administration hospital.  Veterans and employees, traveling to the Lyons VA Medical Center from the station, will be able to catch a fare-free ride thanks to a cooperative partnership between Somerset County, the Lyons VA Medical Center, NJ Transit, and the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA). Through this partnership, our Veterans will no longer face barriers to accessing the care available at the VA Hospital. The Shuttle will run five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., approximately 8 times daily.

 

This month our nation recognized November 11th as Veteran’s Day.  I want to express my thanks and appreciation to all those, including members of our Township staff, Police Department, and Fire and Rescue Squads, who served our country bravely and honorably, and to the families of our Military Veterans, who fostered the value and love of country and service. 

 

I will close with wishing a joyous holiday season to all who are celebrating. My deep appreciation to those of you who have joined me at Township Committee meetings this past year. Your presence at the meetings was recognized and is valued and appreciated. Our next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, December 9, at 7:30pm, Town Hall, 1 Collyer Lane.  In addition, save the date for our Reorganization meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 7:00pm, in the Warren Craft meeting room, Town Hall. 

 

You can contact me on Township matters at (201) 306-0178, or via email at amccarthy@bernards.org. Please note that any correspondence sent to me will be visible to the full township committee and county clerk. 

Paid for by the Bernards Township Democratic Committee