In July 2018 Matthew Hale, Ph.D., was appointed to complete one year of a three year term on the Borough Council. Matt was elected for a full 3-year term in 2019 and re-elected again in 2022.  

Matt previously served the borough as chair of the Digital Data Task Force and as Cubmaster for 10 years of the Highland Park Cub Scouts, Pack Five. He served as chair of the Borough’s Health and Human Services Committee from 2018-2019 and then became chair of the Economic Development Committee.  Some of Matt’s accomplishments include;

As Economic Development Chair

• Led successful effort to create and implement comprehensive downtown redevelopment plan.
• Served as council liaison to planning board, zoning board and Main Street Highland Park
• Oversaw RFP process for naming conditional developer and served as council liaison on the committee of borough professionals recommending conditional developers on Tracts A, B and C of redevelopment plan
• Worked to develop DOT proposal for the creation of South 3^rd Ave pedestrian mall
• Created innovative Town Tables Outdoor dining area during Covid 19.
• Managed and developed process for local licensing of cannabis outlets
• Led Neighborhood Preservation Program grant applicant and stakeholder development process.
• Oversaw implementation of new holiday lights on Woodbridge Ave through NPP grant.
• Assisted in implementation of curbside art projects on Benner Avenue.
• Led effort to pass a resolution condemning Anti-Semitism in Highland Park
• Developed plan for 1^st PILOT agreement in Highland Park on 31 River Road.
• Responsible for developing and implementing revisions to Standard
• Led team that create a entirely brand new Highland Park Web Page
  
  

  As Health and Human Services Committee Chair

• Operating Procedures to the Highland Park Police Department around issues of racial and social justice.
• Served on hiring committees for new Police Chief, Police Captain and several new police officers.
• Provides technical support on statistical methods and guidance to police department on collecting and using traffic stop data
• Instrumental in passing “Fair and Welcoming” Resolution designed to clarify and codify equitable procedures toward immigrants and refugee committee.
• Forced borough to comply with ADA procedures on disabled access in town buildings.

Matt is a professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Affairs at Seton Hall University. His research focuses on how the media covers the public and nonprofit sectors. In July of 2022, Routledge Press published his first book; “Preparing Leaders of Nonprofit Organizations: Contemporary Perspectives”  At Seton Hall, he has taught many courses in the M.P.A. program including the Environment of Public Service, Public Policy Analysis, Public Sector Leadership, Public Sector Ethics, Financial Management and Budgeting, Research Methods, and Strategic Management and Governance.

Matt is a regular media commentator, appearing in hundreds of newspaper, radio and television stories about New Jersey Government and Politics. He writes a regular column for the influential New Jersey political web site InsiderNJ.com. In 2021 and 2022, Matt was named to the NJ Insider top 100 Most Influential Policy Makers in New Jersey.

In November 2017 Matt received the Dr. Thomas J. Davy Academic Achievement Award from the New Jersey Municipal Management Association, at their annual luncheon during the New Jersey League of Municipalities conference in Atlantic City. Matt received the award in recognition of his outstanding work as an educator in the field of public administration. This award was particularly meaningful to Matt as he was nominated by his former students.

Matt’s interest in politics precedes his academic life. He worked as an aide to California Senator Barbara Boxer and in the press and candidate advance operations for several local, state and national political campaigns.

Matt is a proud Highland Park resident with his wife Carrie and three great kids, Eva (20), Zach (18), and David (10). When he is not teaching, writing, talking on TV, or chasing after the children, he plays competitive tennis and slightly competitive baseball and softball.