Issues
Efficient, conservative budgets
From 2013 to 2020, former Councilman Pedroso served as one of two council members on the Budget and Finance Committee. During that time, Bridgewater saw its longest stretch of tax stability—an average increase of just over half of one percent per year—and Bridgewater reached the lowest municipal tax rate in Somerset County. Although the residential municipal tax-rate has remained stable, the Township was able to increase its police, recreation and other essential services' budgets. Through unwavering vigilant fiscal conservative principles, Pedroso never stopped pushing for the adoption of efficient, effective and fiscally conservative budgets -- and fighting unnecessary tax increases. Even though the current Mayor has pushed for historically high tax increases in Bridgewater, Pedroso has always stood up for you and voted NO to these astronomical tax increases.
Protecting our quality of life
Former Councilman Pedroso has been a fighter against overdevelopment. In 2015, Bridgewater faced one of the largest overdevelopment proposals in its history—the Center of Excellence. That’s when he launched “Preserve Bridgewater.” The monstrosity project was being pushed forward rapidly, with little transparency and minimal public involvement. With the help of countless community members, Pedroso's movement stopped a project that would have flooded Bridgewater with 400 apartments and an ill-conceived retail center that would have forever changed the character of our town. Nothing has threatened Bridgewater’s quality of life more than that proposal—and without Pedroso it would not have been stopped. Bridgewater is better for it.
Prioritizing our safety
Bridgewater was listed by Safewise as one of New Jersey's safest town, according to the Bridgewater Patch. Supporting our police department, both in resources and words, has been a priority for former Councilman Pedroso. Although Pedroso led Bridgewater to the lowest municipal tax in Somerset County during his tenure on the Budget-Finance Committee (2013-2020), the police budget increased over the years to make sure that the department is staffed with the officers and equipment it needs. Then Councilman Pedroso supported the addition of school resource police officers to safeguard and protect the Township's children. Pedroso will continue to make sure that our Township is properly serviced by the police it needs. The safety of our community is our number one priority!
