Who am I?

My name is Waqar Khokhar and I am the democratic candidate for Alderman in Ward 1. My family moved to Boonton in 1996 when I was just 7 years old and I’ve been a resident since. I progressed through the Boonton school system before completing my Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity and Master’s Degree in Computer Science at Stevens Institute of Technology. I now work as a Product Security Architect at Becton Dickinson (BD), where I protect medical devices and instruments from malicious attackers and ensure that medical patient data stays secure. I live at 113 Harrison St with my wife and infant son.

What is an Alderman?

Boonton’s Board of Aldermen is comprised of the Mayor and eight Aldermen. These eight Aldermen are elected positions and represent citizens of the four wards that constitute the entire town. Each ward elects two Aldermen and each Alderman’s term is two years in length, reelected in alternating years. Together, the Aldermen and the Mayor form the Board of Aldermen and are responsible for managing the municipal affairs of the town and acting as the overarching governing body. Typical issues settled by the Board include making budgeting decisions, addressing issues presented by citizens, and liaising between the town and higher levels of government.

Why am I running for Alderman?

Having lived in Boonton for effectively my entire life, I watched this town grow and evolve. I’ve been exposed to many different personalities with many varying opinions on the issues that pertain to life in Boonton, and through these experiences I’ve cultivated a rich insight into the pulse of the typical Boontonian. Combined with my refined problem solving and communication skills afforded by my profession and relative youth along with my appreciation of particular sensitivities developed by my cultured upbringing, I find myself uniquely positioned to address the problems and issues that the town of Boonton and its citizens encounter.

Why should you vote for me?

An overbearing problem that exists with our current state of local government is the apparent divide in communication between elected officials and their constituents. In an age where being accurately informed is invaluable, my goal is to do all that I can to ensure that an open line of communication is maintained between myself and the residents of Ward 1 so that they stay informed of the salient issues that affect their neighborhood. I’ve listed my phone number and email address at the bottom of this sheet and encourage anyone to reach out and discuss any matter that pertains to their neighborhood, their ward, or their town.

Beyond this, the Democratic Party has cemented its stance on working to reduce the consistently rising property taxes that have affected Boonton. I will work with other members of the Board to assess the circumstances that led to the current state of inflated taxes and find smart, tactical ways to reduce the tax burden while ensuring that public works projects are maintained so that tax dollars are reinvested in our roads, parks, and communities. I plan to emphasize the problem of speeding in our residential neighborhoods and near our schools and ensure this concern this addressed.