Politics & Government

Democratic Party Candidates Hope to Bring New Perspective to Committee

David Barnett and Margaret Bandrowski tout their experience and connections to Springfield.

The two Township Committee candidates nominated by Springfield’s Democratic party are no strangers to serving on Township governing boards. Between them, they have served on five boards and chaired three.

Candidates David Barnett and Margaret Bandrowski are both active members of Springfield community and government.  Barnett, a resident of Springfield for more than 15 years, has served as a member of the Township Committee, Chair of the Planning Board, Chair of the Board of Adjustment and Chair of the Development Review Committee. 

Bandrowski, a resident of Springfield since 1956, is a long-time member of the Springfield Historical Society and has served the past 15 years as its president and was a member of the 225th Anniversary of the Battle of Springfield Committee. While immersed in the township’s past, she has also helped shaped its future as the Chair of the Board of Adjustment where she presided over contentious issues such as the cell tower proposed for the Knights of Columbus property near the Summit border.

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 “I believe I have a perspective that is currently missing on the Township Committee,” Margaret Bandrowski said in an email. 

Bandrowski, a common fixture at government meetings, said she is concerned about the tone government meetings have taken on.

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“I also believe I have the ability to bring civility and compromise back to our local government,” Bandrowski said.

Bandrowski has also been a member of the Springfield Environmental Commission and the Springfield Green Team, has been Chair of the Development Review Committee and currently volunteers at the Springfield Public Library working on the historical collection in the Palmer Museum.  A graduate of Rutgers University and the University of Michigan, she has a B.A. and M.A. in English and is retired after more than 35 years, including as manager of the customer service department of a major company.

David Barnett, an entrepreneur and business executive, is currently Managing Director of a private equity firm.  He oversees a number of companies in the technology and manufacturing sectors.  Barnett and his wife Lori have two children who attend Springfield public schools. While on the Township Committee, he was chair of the Administration Sub-committee and a member of the Public Works Sub-committee, as well as serving as liaison to the Board of Health. 

“There is more work to be done for Springfield to offer everything it can to our citizens, while controlling costs,” Barnett said in an email. “My business experience has taught me how to manage budgets, allocate resources and organize for maximum efficiency. Most importantly, my experience has taught me how to lead an organization by motivating and empowering employees to take initiative and be innovative in their roles.”

He added: “I look forward to bringing these skills back to the Township Committee.”

The two candidates face independent Democrat candidate and former Mayor Bart Fraenkel in the June 5 primary.


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