Thomas Watts to fill seat left vacant by passing of Gorman

HAMBURGnThomas Watts was chosen to fill the spot on the borough council left open by the passing of Ginny Gorman. A Hamburg resident for 19 years who was formerly from Bayonne, Watts is a 1980 Rutgers University graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Planning and a graduate of the Chubb Institute in Computer Programming. He has worked in various computer programming positions, and since 1996 has been an Application Architect at Medco Health Solutions in Montvale. Watts and his wife, Janet, have been married 21 years and have two children, Meredith, 17, and Lauren, 14. Both attend Wallkill Valley Regional High School. When daughter Meredith began playing soccer at the age of nine, Watts began his involvement in coaching with both the recreational and travel soccer teams and basketball. That was the start of his community involvement. Because of his education and expertise in planning, he was appointed to the Hamburg Planning Board where he has served for 2-1/2 years. "Serving on the Hamburg Planning Board has made me come to realize how important it is for citizens to get involved in their communities," he said. "The most satisfying aspect of the experience has been interfacing with the public and finding out the needs of the people; how the public, developers, and the board work together," Watts continued. He said he feels the biggest accomplishment of the board has been approval of the Bluffs at Ballyowen. Regarding the age-restricted development, he said, "We will now have a ratable that will provide upscale homes without impacting the school system." When Watts was nominated by Councilman Bill Cunningham to fill the vacancy on the Hamburg Borough Council, he accepted enthusiastically. Watts said his goal is "to work together with the Mayor and Council to set goals and use common sense approaches to provide the residents of Hamburg with the highest quality services that can be attained within a sound budget" Watts is planning to run in the November election on the Democratic ticket for a term of three years. "At this level of governance, it's imperative that we all work together whatever one's political views are on a national level. Here we're working together," he said. "If elected, I hope to continue the spirit of cooperation on the Hamburg Town Council that Ginny Gorman was much admired and respected."