DPW Superintendent Plans Run For Mayor

Superintendent and lifelong Mahwah resident Ed Sinclair is planning to run for mayor this November, he confirmed Tuesday evening. Sinclair has picked up petitions from the town clerk’s office to run, and although he said he would not officially announce his candidacy until he turns them in, “I am definitely planning on running,” he said.

Sinclair, 54, has worked for the township’s Department of Public Works for 25 years, and currently serves as its Superintendent. Before that, he was Superintendent of Water and Sewer for the Borough of Ramsey.

The Mahwah High School graduate has also been a Company 2 volunteer firefighter since 1981. He also served as an EMT driver for Company No. 1 Ambulance Corps for 7 years. He coached Mahwah DARE street hockey, youth baseball, football, T-ball, and coordinated dozens of badge projects for Eagle Scouts.

Sinclair said it was not a specific issue that prompted him to run, but rather “it is something that I always wanted to do.” He said his history as an involved, lifelong resident piqued his interest in the position. “I understand Mahwah from the inside out,” he said in a release. “I know how Mahwah works, and I want to make sure that it continues to work well.”

The DPW Superintendent said that over his career, he has had experience working with the fire department, emergency services, municipal water and sewer, streets and roads, parks and recreation, buildings and grounds, snow removal, leaf collection, the town pool, and recycling.

“I have an insider’s view,” he said. “I know what it takes to run this town.”

Sinclair also said he feels his budgetary background would help with one of the mayor’s top responsibilities – helping figure out what the township spends money on. “As the economic downturn demanded lower budgets, my team and I learned to do more with less. Through hard work and determination, we found creative ways to provide first-rate services with fewer taxpayer dollars,” he said. “I have no doubt that there are additional efficiencies [in the township budget] to be found.”

Sinclair lives in the township with his wife, Jackie (Borish) Sinclair,. He has two children, Benjamin and Melissa, who both graduated from Mahwah public schools.

Sinclair launched a campaign website that is currently under construction.

According to the township clerk’s office, so far only Sinclair, and current have picked up petitions to run for Mahwah’s top job.