FanwoodNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Fanwood Borough Council Election 2026

2 of 6 council seats are on the ballot, with 3 candidates running. Updated Oct 20, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

Find where to voteCheck your registration
Early voting begins (Oct 24): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Voters choose two of three candidates for at-large Borough Council seats with three-year terms; the mayor is not on the 2026 ballot.

Early voting begins · Oct 24

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Tax abatements and South Avenue redevelopment3 sourced facts

Where it standsIn July 2026 the council re-adopted the borough's short-term tax abatement ordinance, retroactive to 2025, with a two-year sunset.

What's on the tableThe next council will oversee the remaining abatement projects on South Avenue until the program ends.

02Municipal budget and taxes3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe council introduced the CY 2026 municipal budget in April 2026 and voted to adopt it as amended on June 1, 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will draft and adopt the 2027 budget and set the municipal tax levy.

03Affordable housing obligation2 sourced facts

Where it standsA court set Fanwood's Fourth Round prospective need at 109 affordable units, and the council approved a mediation agreement with Fair Share Housing Center in January 2026.

What's on the tableThe next council will carry out the borough's Fourth Round housing plan and any rezoning it requires.

04Shared services with neighboring towns2 sourced facts

Where it standsFanwood has a new shared court agreement with Garwood and gets chief financial officer services from Scotch Plains.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide whether to renew or expand shared services agreements.

  • In August 2026 the council approved paying Scotch Plains $10,420 a month for chief financial officer and purchasing agent services from September 1 through December 31, 2026. Borough of Fanwood · Aug 13, 2026
  • At the January 2026 reorganization meeting, Mayor Colleen Mahr spoke about the new shared services agreement with Garwood for a shared court. Borough of Fanwood · Jan 5, 2026
05Council meeting videos2 sourced facts

Where it standsThe borough hires a videography firm, and in June 2026 the mayor asked the administrator to look into posting meeting videos on the borough's YouTube channel.

What's on the tableThe next council will decide how council meetings are recorded and shared with the public.

2 notes on these statements

Councilman Jeffrey Banks's term on the Borough Council ends in 2026. Wikipedia

The Republicans nominated one candidate, Gary Morris, for the two seats; the county list shows no nomination for the second Republican slot. Union County Clerk · Sep 3, 2026

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. How should Fanwood use short-term tax abatements for redevelopment?

  2. 2. Should Fanwood share more services with neighboring towns?

  3. 3. How should Fanwood share council meetings with the public?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted3 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.

Key dates

The seat math

5 stay (not up this year): Erin McElroy Barker, Gina Berry, Colleen Mahr, Katherine Mitchell, Patricia Walsh2 on this ballot

6 council seats plus a mayor who doesn't vote on council items. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

  • Fanwood uses the borough form of government: a mayor elected to a four-year term and six council members elected to staggered three-year terms, with two seats up each year. Wikipedia
  • The mayor presides at council meetings and votes only in the event of a tie. Wikipedia
  • Mayor Colleen Mahr's term ends December 31, 2027. Wikipedia
  • The 2026 ballot has two Members of Council seats with three-year terms, vote for two; the Republicans nominated one candidate. Union County Clerk · Sep 3, 2026

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