Politics & Government

Five Questions for Jeff Furbish

The Township resident is running for a seat on the committee.

When Jeff Furbish moved to Chatham Township in 2003, he and his family wasted no time in getting involved.

Furbish started coaching for the Recreation Department, first football, which his son played, and then basketball and baseball as well. Even though his children are no longer involved in recreational sports, he has continued to coach. He joined the Open Space Committee and the Planning Board and balanced those with a job in New York City. His wife got involved too, by joining the Chatham Emergency Squad.

Furbish is one of four Republicans running in the contested primary in Chatham Township Tuesday. His running mate, current Committee Member Bailey Brower, Jr., thinks that his experience in the insurance business could be invaluable in helping the township maintain the insurance and benefits costs of public employees. Furbish agrees that the township needs to control costs, but he has another concern, too.

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"I think traffic safety is a huge issue in town," he said. "Sidewalks on the main roads near schools and fields. Demarcation of pedestrian crosswalks. These are things that make Chatham Township a great place to live, and I think they need to be emphasized."

Furbish also worries about the former Rolling Knolls Landfill site in Chatham Township. "That's a huge liability for us," Furbish said, and "it continues to be a concern."

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A director at Guardian Life Insurance, Furbish said he plans to use some of the flexibility of his position to manage his time between work, family and the committee. His position is based in New York, but he does have the option of working from offices in New Jersey or from home.

Primary elections are set for June 7. In-person voting is currently underway at the Morris County Clerk's Office.


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