On Saturday, February 19, 2022, an election was held for two commissioner seats and the working budget for the Woodbridge Fire Department. Aside from the overall importance of participating in the democratic process, it’s also important that the democratic process is easily understandable and accessible to all registered voters within Fire District #1. Chief John Golden saw this as the perfect opportunity to work with the Woodbridge Township School District to ensure that the diversity in Fire District #1 was represented at the polls. “One of the most important parts of being a civil servant is understanding that our communities are culturally vast and diverse. We have to make sure we are doing everything in our power to let the residents in our district know that we not only welcome, but appreciate that diversity and want to accommodate everyone from all walks of life,” Golden said. With that, he enlisted the help of Woodbridge High School Principal, Dr. Glenn Lottmann, and stellar students Jackie Morel, Hirmi Patel, and Musfirah Sohail to aid residents in better understanding their ballots and special questions. If a resident spoke another language more proficiently than English, these Woodbridge High School students were on site to ensure that a proper translation was given. Their bilingual expertise helped expand the opportunity for residents within the community to fully comprehend the ballot information. The Woodbridge Fire Department would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Lottmann, Jackie Morel, Hirmi Patel, and Musfirah Sohail for their assistance with providing this crucial service to the residents of Fire District #1. “It is greatly appreciated and, as always, an honor to work for and with our community.
