About Us

Hello Mount Olive Neighbors, My name is Dr. Antoine Gayles, I am running for a seat on the Mount Olive Town Council.  I have lived in Mount Olive for 23 years, am a member of the Flanders United Methodist Church, and have proudly served on the Mount Olive School Board since 2014. I deeply value the importance of establishing personal connections between all members of the community and I’ve come to cherish both the lasting friendships I’ve made and the new people I meet.  As I look at our community, I see we’ve made some progress, but we still have work to do.

Too many businesses have closed, too many storefronts sit empty, and with no local supermarket, Budd Lake has been turned into a food desert.  The Council points the blame at the state.  However,  I’m not about shifting responsibility; I’m about taking responsibility. 

That’s why I’m running. I want to transform Mount Olive into a “go to” destination, where you can eat, shop and explore.  I will support the expansion of small businesses by working with landlords and aspiring entrepreneurs to breathe life back into our township, while working to preserve the rich open space that makes our township special. 

I will be involved and visible in the community.  For me, being a town council member isn’t just about what I would do in council-chambers.  It’s about what I would do in our town with, and for, you.. 

Having a long history of celebrating what makes each of us unique while bringing us together to achieve a common goal, I will listen and ensure that every voice is heard. 

I am forward thinking.  A new voice with a real vision, who would be a strong advocate for you as your new Councilman.

Hello Mount Olive, my name is Nicole Spaldo and I’m running for Town Council.  My husband Ryan and I have lived in Mount Olive for 9 years.  We truly love this town, it’s been a wonderful place to raise my daughter, who’s in first grade, my ten-month-old son, our two dogs, and a wonderful rabbit named Nibbles.  Here in town, I am a Girl Scout leader for my daughter’s troop, a District Leader with the Mount Olive Democrats, and a passionate advocate for environmental sustainability and senior health and wellness.  I am excited to do more, giving my all towards improving Mount Olive. I’ve dedicated my life to helping people.  After completing my master’s degree in 2009, I’ve worked as an occupational therapist helping seniors maximize their independence and empowering young people to live their very best lives. 

 I am, above all, working to improve things for my children’s generation.  The current town council’s plan of saddling them with debt, or having the town overrun by corporations, isn’t good enough.  We need solutions that will privilege local businesses and a sustainable budget.  As a member of the Town Council, I will work to fill our empty storefronts by employing smart, research-based initiatives to grow our local economy.  

This all starts by electing a town council who will listen to the community they represent.  From my work advocating for seniors and the environment, I know first-hand how difficult it is to get in front of the council as a working mom, much less get them to listen!  As your councilwoman, I will make sure that every resident has access to their representatives.  

That’s what this is all about, making sure EVERY resident has their voice heard and respected.  Our community is growing more and more diverse; and I believe that our Town Council has a responsibility to serve all its residents.  Whether you have lived in Mount Olive for generations or just moved in; whether you rent or buy, every person young and old deserves a town council that works for them.  In these uncertain times, the town council needs to be doing more for you and your family.  The Town Council needs new voices with real vision.  I would be honored to be your next councilwoman and, if elected, I will waste no time in making Mount Olive a stronger, healthier community. 

Hello, my name is Baramdai Sharma, most people call me Alicia; I am running for a seat on the Mount Olive Town Council. I’ve lived in Mount Olive for over half a decade, but I was born in Guyana, South America where I lived for over half my life before immigrating to Canada and eventually the U.S.A. Growing up, my family struggled financially, my father worked as a security guard while my mother took whatever jobs she could find to help make ends meet. I had to overcome many obstacles and economic challenges to get to where I am today. 

I have always been someone who gets involved in my community, from Guyana where I worked to support a feeding program and implement a skills training workshop for children, to Canada where I served my Church, and right here in Mount Olive where I work as both a crisis counselor and on the Mount Olive 150^th anniversary celebration committee. I am running because I want to give back to Mount Olive, a township that has given me and my children so much.

With over thirty years of experience in accounting and finance, I understand the importance of a balanced budget and sound financial decisions. I am a strategic planner and am ready to use my financial expertise to develop Mount Olive’s economy. Not only working harder, but working smarter in finding innovative new ways to attract small businesses while being fiscally responsible with your hard-earned tax dollars.

I believe that there should be open communication between residents and their Town Council, far more communication than there is now. In my thirty years of working with businesses to craft financial plans, I have the communication and interpersonal skills necessary to build a more accessible and accountable Town Council. 

As an immigrant, woman, and person of color, I believe in equity, diversity, and inclusivity. I believe diversity brings a wider range of perspectives, which promotes innovation to solve complex challenges. Currently, I am part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team working with students in this program. I will partner with our churches and businesses to implement policies and programs that are inclusive and fair for all residents.

I am passionate about creating a real vision for Mount Olive, where fiscal responsibility is a requisite for improved service delivery. So remember to vote for Sharma on November 2^nd!

Hello Mount Olive my name is Jordan Bernstein and I am running for town Council.  For the past five years, my wife, three daughters, and I have lived in Mount Olive.  I have come to truly love Mount Olive, I know it will be my home for a long time. My deep appreciation for this town is why I have decided to run for town Council.

Mount Olive is already a wonderful township to live in, and we can make it even better. We need a town council that is proactive, transparent, and accessible to all. I believe our town council should represent the diversity of our residents in our great town. We need to be fighting to keep Mount Olive affordable for everyone, whether you’re a homeowner or a renter.

I’ve seen how Covid has affected our town, and right now we’re not doing enough to uplift the township in the aftermath . I see the empty store-fronts, I see people worried about what the end of the eviction and foreclosure moratorium means for their family, and I see how we’ve lost a sense of togetherness during this isolation.  So far, we’ve  opportunities to bring in new business and new jobs.  I want to work proactively to attract more small businesses and reinvigorate Mount Olive’s economy.

As a candidate, I value the input of every member of our community.  On the Town Council, I would do more to involve residents in the decisions being made for our town.  Everyone should have a say in the future of Mount Olive, not just big companies and select elites.

I want our town to be an open and inviting place for all regardless of race, religion, gender identity, age or income. We need to have a town council that is as diverse and representative as the people of Mount Olive.  I will work to make sure that every voice is heard and respected.  

We need to be doing more not only to keep Mount Olive an excellent place to live, but to make sure it stays that way.  So, on November 2^nd, vote for Jordan Bernstein and the New Voices of the Vote Mount Olive Team