January 15. 2026
We, the Highland Park Democratic Committee, offer our solidarity to the people of Minneapolis and around the country in the wake of the horrific shooting of Renee Nicole Good and others. Our own community is anxious and fearful like so many others around the country in the wake of paramilitary-style actions by masked agents of ICE or DHS. The American spirit is to be welcoming and peaceful. Highland Park, like so many other American communities, is a welcoming and peaceful community. We respect the law, decry violence, and challenge the need for a paramilitary approach to the enforcement of federal statutes. The actions of agents of the federal government should not cause fear and raise anxiety. We encourage all residents of Highland Park to know their rights in this unsettling time and recall that peaceful observation in support of our neighbors is fundamentally a part of the democratic spirit and a right of all Americans. We call on all elected officials in our borough, county, state and nation to stand with us, peacefully and assertively, in support of all of our neighbors regardless of religion, nation of origin, race or gender.
(NOTE: Within hours of the committee discussing this statement, ICE agents shot another person in Minnesota.)
June 28, 2023
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Art. XII, Sec. 1, the charge of the Communications Committee is amended to add that, effective immediately, and without prejudice to the Corresponding Secretary’s obligations regarding formal correspondence under Art. IV, Sec. 4(b) of the Bylaws, the Communications Committee or its designee(s), be and is given the sole power to make communications on behalf of the HPDMC through social media platforms.
The foregoing was approved by a majority of the committee present and voting at a duly-called meeting on June 28, 2023 at which a quorum was present.
May 3, 2023
RESOLVED, that HPDMC annual, regular, and special meetings, and its convention, will continue to be by Zoom or equivalent technology. The purpose of this standing rule is to allow for maximum flexibility and as close to full attendance as possible of all committee members at its meetings. This does not apply to petition signings or other gatherings. The standing rule is subject to amendment or repeal by the Committee by motion at any time.
The foregoing was approved by a majority of the committee present and voting at a duly-called meeting on May 3, 2023 at which a quorum was present.
February 5, 2023
RESOLVED that it is the sense of the municipal committee that it is unwise for the Council to use the partisan caucus exception of the Open Public Meetings Act when an effective majority of the Council deliberates or discusses the issue of filling vacancies for borough elective office. The committee takes no position on the legality of such action.
The foregoing was approved by a majority of the committee present and voting at a duly-called meeting on February 5, 2023 at which a quorum was present.
December 3, 2021
Dear Mayor and Council,
At the Democratic Committee meeting on December 1, the Members discussed the proposed Election Day Registration bill before the NJ legislature (A4548/S2824). This bill would increase voter turnout by changing the requirement that a person must register to vote at least 21 days before an election to allowing registration up until an election day. The Committee Members present at the meeting all supported the proposed bill. Therefore, we would like you, the elected governing body of the Borough of Highland Park, to pass a resolution in support of this bill. We understand that it would be sent to our state legislators as well as the local governments of Middlesex County.
A draft of such a resolution prepared by Flavio Komuves, our Parliamentarian and lawyer expert in election law, is attached and may be of some use.
Thank you for your consideration and for everything else that you do,
Stanley Fessant
Highland Park Democratic Municipal Committee Secretary
WHEREAS, there are pending before the New Jersey Legislature bills Nos. A4548/S2824, which would establish a system of election day voter registration (EDR) in New Jersey, in place of the current deadline of 21 days before the election 1 ; and
WHEREAS, EDR has been proven to increase voter turnout, including among persons of color, while denying EDR rights depresses voter turnout, disproportionately so with regard to persons of color 2 ; and
WHEREAS, the right to vote (which includes the right for eligible persons to register to vote, to cast their ballot, and to have that ballot fairly counted) is recognized in New Jersey as a fundamental constitutional right 3 ; and
WHEREAS, Highland Park is firmly committed to the tutelage and promotion of the right the right to vote in all its forms 4 ; and
WHEREAS, A4548/S2824 would promote the foregoing objectives