NEWTON, NJ — Dr. Ludmilla Mecaj, a university science educator, former physician and cancer researcher, and Newton resident for more than 30 years, is running for Newton Town Council to bring accountable government, fiscal responsibility, and responsive leadership to the community she calls home.

After immigrating to the United States in 1995 from a European dictatorship, Dr. Mecaj settled in Newton, became a U.S. citizen, cared for her family, and built a life rooted in education, property ownership, and community service.

Her service includes four years as Vice Chair of Newton’s Recreation Commission, cancer awareness initiatives, and past service in the College Senate at Sussex County Community College.

A Record of Citizen Action

Dr. Mecaj helped lead the successful citizen referendum that moved Newton’s municipal elections from May to November, bringing local elections into the general election cycle and eliminating the expense of separate municipal elections.

The change has saved approximately $80,000 across four election cycles while giving residents the opportunity to vote for local leadership alongside other elected offices.

That record reflects her belief that residents can bring meaningful change when government does not act on their concerns.

Keeping Newton Affordable for the People Who Call It Home

In conversations with residents, Dr. Mecaj has heard from homeowners, including seniors, who fear they may need to leave Newton because rising property taxes and everyday costs are becoming unaffordable. With inflation straining household budgets and property revaluation raising concerns about future tax bills, she calls for closer scrutiny of municipal spending and opposition to unnecessary tax increases.

Her priorities include scrutinizing municipal spending, strengthening Council oversight of municipal management, protecting essential services, and supporting responsible economic development that strengthens the tax base without placing unnecessary burdens on existing residents.

She believes affordability must be measured not only by municipal budgets, but also by whether longtime residents can continue living in the community they helped build.

Dr. Mecaj also calls for greater accountability in maintaining municipal facilities. She points to the Babe Ruth field at Memory Park, where she says drainage was neglected throughout the town manager’s tenure of 20 years, leaving taxpayers facing a bill exceeding $750,000. She advocates preventive maintenance, clear responsibility, and public reporting to prevent neglected facilities from becoming costly burdens on residents.

Addressing Causes, Not Just Symptoms

Dr. Mecaj calls for a fresh approach to downtown Newton’s recurring challenges, grounded in common sense. She believes lasting progress requires addressing the causes of homelessness—including housing insecurity, mental health needs, substance use disorders, and gaps in supportive services.

She points to the removal of the Town Green gazebo a few years ago as an approach that left the underlying concerns unresolved. In her view, the response to the latest downtown concerns follows the same pattern: treating symptoms without sufficiently considering practical alternatives or lasting solutions. She warns that repeating this approach risks unnecessary spending while leaving taxpayers to pay more for problems that persist.

She supports protecting residents, businesses, and public spaces through cooperation with qualified service providers and regional partners. Before committing public funds, she calls for clear evidence of need, consideration of existing resources, and comparison of practical options that offer good value for taxpayers.

Accessible Government and Responsible Leadership

Dr. Mecaj advocates respectful treatment of residents at public meetings, clear answers to public questions, predictable rules, and consistent enforcement.

She also supports ending remote work arrangements for municipal management that have continued since the COVID pandemic so that leadership paid by taxpayers is accessible during normal business hours.

Her approach to public safety emphasizes practical solutions supported by evidence and cooperation with residents and local businesses. She also calls for attention to aging infrastructure and careful evaluation of development proposals based on their costs, benefits, and effects on Newton over time.

Dr. Mecaj calls for stronger safeguards concerning elected officials’ purchases of properties through foreclosure or proceedings involving unpaid property taxes. She will pursue an ordinance, consistent with state law, strengthening disclosure requirements and protections against conflicts of interest. Her goal is to ensure transparency, fair access, and public confidence that elected officials receive no special advantage in acquiring property.

A Case for Renewal

Dr. Mecaj believes experience should be accompanied by accountability, fresh perspectives, and a willingness to reconsider practices that no longer serve residents.

For her, these recurring problems demonstrate why a limit of two terms for Town Council members is necessary to encourage fresh thinking, prevent complacency, broaden participation, and strengthen accountability. With the three incumbents seeking their sixth, fifth, and third terms, she believes Newton deserves new voices and leadership willing to pursue practical solutions, address root causes, and protect taxpayers from unnecessary spending.

Her campaign offers Newtonians a choice for leadership grounded in professional experience, community involvement, fiscal responsibility, and a demonstrated willingness to take action.

Accountable Government. Fiscal Responsibility. Responsible Leadership for Newton.

Dr. Ludmilla Mecaj appears in ballot position 2 in the November 3, 2026, Newton Town Council election