Welcome to my website!

Mission Statement

I am running for Freeholder because an open and competently-managed government is something that every resident of Somerset County has a right to expect. At all levels of government, but at the local and county level in particular, decision-making should be pragmatic -- conducted transparently, with public input and the interests of all residents foremost in mind.

As Mayor of Montgomery Township, my guiding principle has been that good government is not a Democratic or Republican issue, it is a universal one. I believe in:

• Sound fiscal policy and control over taxes;

• Strict prohibitions on unethical practices, including an outright ban on the practice of ‘pay-to-play’ in government contracting;

• Consolidation of services where there are redundancies or inefficiencies in order to save tax dollars;

• Protection of our open space to preserve the semi-rural character of many of our communities and to act as a bulwark against sprawl, and

• Effective long-term planning to avoid unexpected expenditures and to help ensure more stable tax rate.

These are not partisan goals and objectives. As Mayor in Montgomery, I have worked tirelessly with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle on these issues – and together we have achieved much success. We have kept municipal taxes stable over the long term. We have dramatically expanded open-space preservation by leveraging available grant money. We have banned ‘pay-to-play’ to ensure open and fair contracting. We have implemented comprehensive fiscal planning measures so we can better anticipate major capital expenditure requirements out into the future to avoid tax spikes.

Our success in Montgomery has been in striking contrast to the county government where partisanship has reigned supreme. No Democrat has served on the Board of Freeholders in 28 years. During this time Somerset County’s property taxes have risen to 4th highest in the nation. County professionals and senior employees loyal to the Republican-controlled Board have been rewarded with, at times, lavish salary and benefit packages. As one example, the County Administrator now earns more in salary than 49 of the 50 state governors. Recent scandals on the Somerset Parks Commission and a continuing refusal to ban pay-to-play contracting practices are emblematic of a Freeholder Board that has become part of the problem, not the forum for solutions.

Absent bipartisan oversight of the County Government, shady practices and wasteful spending are certain to continue.

As Freeholder, I promise to bring a new degree of openness to our county government. Clean and effective government is not a partisan issue, but after a generation of sclerotic one-party rule, Somerset County needs new and independent voices on its governing board. Having successfully worked across the aisle at the local level on issues that all residents can stand behind I am confident that with your support we can solve even the toughest issues before us.

Together we can restore trust in County Government.

Respectfully yours,

Cecilia Xie Birge
Somerset County Freeholder Candidate '08

To learn more about me and my background, please take your time and browse the other content posted in this website. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by cbirge@birgegroup.com