A Letter from Neil Henry
Neil Henry for Mayor | Mike Zedalis & Bud Murphy for Council
I am proud to announce my candidacy for Mayor of Mendham Borough, alongside Mike Zedalis and Joseph “Bud” Murphy for Borough Council.
Left: Joseph “Bud” Murphy
Middle: Neil Henry
Right: Mike Zedalis
Together, we are running to restore steady, transparent, and professional governance to our Borough, because Mendham can, and must, be run better.
I have spent much of my life in public service. I served Mendham Borough as Mayor for twelve years and as a Councilman for six. During that time, I earned bipartisan support and built a reputation for being engaged, accessible, and collaborative with the Council, administration, and residents. Under my leadership, Mendham Borough was recognized by New Jersey Monthly as the number one town to live and work in and I see this as a reflection of strong governance, thoughtful decision-making, and community pride.
After leaving elected office, I continued my public service career as a full-time Municipal Business Administrator. Now, as I prepare to retire from that role, I feel a responsibility to step forward again to ensure our governing body and Town Hall functions the way it is supposed to.
As Mayor, I will ensure that decisions are made openly, collaboratively, and with the full participation of the Council. Policy decisions belong to the full governing body and poor management does more than create frustration, it creates financial and legal exposure for taxpayers. In recent years, we have seen costly disputes, operational missteps, and avoidable risks that ultimately fall on residents. These are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of insufficient oversight and reactive leadership.
As a Municipal Business Administrator, I have managed personnel, labor contracts, budgets, capital planning, procurement, and compliance with state mandates, including complex Affordable Housing obligations. I understand how the municipal government operates day to day. I know how to establish clear processes, strengthen internal controls, reduce risk, and ensure accountability.
Mike Zedalis and Bud Murphy bring complementary strengths to this effort.
Mike’s executive leadership experience as a former CTO, COO, and CEO gives him a deep understanding of operational efficiency, fiscal discipline, and strategic planning. As Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, he demonstrated his commitment to protecting our Borough’s character while managing growth responsibly.
Bud Murphy brings more than twenty years of legal experience handling complex, high-stakes matters requiring discipline, preparation, and sound judgment. As a former business owner and an appointee to the New Jersey Supreme Court District Ethics Committee, Bud understands accountability, transparency, and ethical leadership at the highest level.
Together, we are committed to:
Restoring Council-driven decision-making
Managing Affordable Housing responsibly and proactively
Maintaining long-term fiscal discipline and capital planning
Reducing legal and operational risk
Preserving Mendham Borough’s historic character and small-town identity
Strengthening communication between residents and Borough Hall
If elected, we will ensure that the administration informs and enables. We will stabilize staff turnover, improve transparency, and insist on smart, lawful decision-making that protects taxpayers from preventable mistakes.
This election is about stewardship. It is about protecting what makes Mendham special while preparing responsibly for the challenges ahead.
Mendham deserves experienced leadership in governance, operations, and ethics. We are prepared to lead from day one.
Respecting Taxpayers. Restoring Trust. Running Mendham Right.
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