About Us
Neil Henry for Mayor
Neil Henry is running for Mayor to restore Mendham’s government to what the Borough Code intends: a form of government where policy decisions are made openly, collaboratively, and by the full Borough Council. Not unilaterally by any one member of the governing body.
Having been raised in Mendham, educated in its schools, and served previously as Councilman and Mayor, Neil deeply values the small-town character, tight-knit community, and historic identity that define the Borough. He believes those qualities must be protected through steady, transparent leadership and professional management.
Neil and his wife, Leslie, have built a strong family life rooted in Mendham. Together, they have proudly raised three children who attended Mendham’s schools, and they are the proud grandparents of seven grandchildren in total. Their deep family ties and continued presence in the community reflect a lasting commitment to Mendham’s future and the generations who will call it home.
Neil brings decades of public and private sector leadership experience:
Six years as Mendham Borough Councilman
Twelve years as Mendham Borough Mayor
Twelve years on the Mendham Borough Planning Board
Fifteen years as full-time Municipal Business Administrator (Long Hill Township and Town of Boonton)
Thirty years as a senior sales executive with Smith Corona, Timex, and Casio
His successful career has been built on consensus-building, disciplined management, and thoughtful decision-making. As Mayor, Neil will ensure that all Council members have a voice, that residents are heard, and that decisions are made transparently.
To strengthen communication and accountability, Neil is committed to keeping residents informed and engaged through consistent outreach. He will prioritize regular digital newsletters, live-stream Borough Council meetings to ensure transparency, host informal office hours sessions to encourage open dialogue, and provide twice monthly updates from the Mayor’s Office so residents always know what decisions are being made and why.
Neil is focused on managing state-mandated affordable housing responsibly, maintaining balanced budgets with long-term capital planning, strengthening revenue opportunities, and building a stable municipal workforce that prioritizes taxpayers.
Above all, residents can be confident that Neil will always be accessible, honest, and guided by what is best for Mendham and not politics.
Joseph “Bud” Murphy for Council
Joseph “Bud” Murphy is running for Borough Council because he believes Mendham is at a pivotal moment where experience, integrity, and disciplined leadership matter more than ever.
A Mendham resident for 16 years, Bud and his wife Colleen have built their life in the community, raising their three children here and putting down deep personal and professional roots. Married for 23 years this June, they are the proud parents of Molly (19), Caitlin (18), and Aidan (17), all of whom attended Mendham schools. In addition to his legal career, Bud was also the co-owner of the Mendham Creamery, which he opened in July 2017, bringing to life something he had long envisioned for the town. The Creamery became a place that employed dozens of local students from West Morris Mendham High School, and to this day, many of those former employees reflect on it as one of their most meaningful early work experiences.
He founded and operated his own law firm in Mendham for six and a half years, managing staff, finances, compliance, and long term planning. His experience has given him firsthand insight into how municipal decisions impact residents and businesses.
For more than 20 years, Bud has practiced law handling complex, high-stakes matters that demand judgment, preparation, and ethical clarity. In 2014, he was certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, a distinction held by approximately 150 attorneys out of more than 40,000 active practicing attorneys in New Jersey (and over 100,000 admitted to the bar). This certification required a separate, rigorous examination process and continues to require recertification every four years. It is a professional achievement he has worked diligently to earn and maintain for over a decade.
In August 2024, Bud was appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court to serve on the District XA Ethics Committee, a role that requires impartial evaluation, discretion, and professionalism.
Bud has also been actively involved in the community, including serving as a member of the Mendham Borough Recreation Committee and coaching baseball for five years, investing his time directly in the families and youth who make this community strong.
Bud approaches governance the same way he approaches his legal practice: analytical and fact-driven, fiscally disciplined, direct, honest, and transparent, collaborative but decisive.
He believes Mendham must focus on:
Long-term fiscal stability and multi-year budgeting
Responsible development and zoning that protects historic character
Proactive infrastructure and public safety planning
Bud is eager to hear from the community, and the community can rely on him to do the homework, ask the hard questions, protect taxpayer dollars, and put Mendham ahead of politics.
Mike Zedalis for Council
Dr. Mike Zedalis is running for Borough Council to help restore efficient, forward-thinking leadership to Mendham. After a successful executive career, he has retired and is now fully committed to devoting the time and energy necessary to serve the Borough.
Mike brings decades of operational leadership experience as a former CTO, COO, and CEO of mid-sized companies, where he drove efficiency, cost control, and strategic planning, experience that can be applied directly to municipal government.
He also served as Chair of Mendham’s Historic Preservation Commission for 15 years, where he successfully expanded the Historic District and Main Street Corridor while reviewing hundreds of applications fairly and responsibly. His work reflects a deep commitment to preserving Mendham’s character while managing growth intelligently.
A Jersey native and Mendham resident since 1993, Mike and his wife Nellie raised four children here and are now proud grandparents. He has also served on Little League and Recreation Basketball boards, helping strengthen youth programs and community engagement.
To Mike, good governance means:
Strategic planning that anticipates challenges
Transparent and welcoming decision-making
Fiscal discipline and operational efficiency
A business-friendly environment that supports growth without sacrificing character
He believes Mendham needs leadership that resists one-size-fits-all state mandates, protects historic integrity, and manages finances responsibly.
If elected, Mike will bring analytical rigor, team-based leadership, and a results-driven mindset to Borough Council.