Press Release, Frank Mangravite Running for Morris Plains Council.

Frank Mangravite has entered the race for Morris Plains Council in November’s election. “I am grateful to have this opportunity to represent the residents of Morris Plains. I believe the Council needs fresh and independent opinions and better long-range planning that more broadly involves the public because we deserve a transparent and inclusive government.” Frank further states that “There needs to be a better effort to attract businesses to our community and a long-range plan for our parks and open spaces to allow community organizations to plan for their participation. Finally, I would be honored to work alongside all the council members to move Morris Plains forward.”

As a member of the Morris Plains Rotary, Frank’s many accomplishments include serving as President in 2008-2009, starting a fourth grade essay contest on citizenship at both the Borough School and St. Virgil’s School, developing a bilingual dictionary distribution for adults and, recently, organizing seventeen Morris County Rotary clubs to raise funds for the Morris County Interfaith Food Pantry’s new building. This effort has raised $230,000 in pledges.

Frank is an active member of Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel. One of the accomplishments that he is most proud of is managing the church’s Christ’s Helpers, a group of volunteers who perform minor maintenance on the homes or apartments of persons who have limited resources or special circumstances. Over 100 calls, mostly elderly people living on a fixed income, were answered in a period of two years.

Frank moved to Morris Plains in 1986. He earned his PhD from Clarkson University in Physical Chemistry. And it is interesting to note that his thesis was awarded first place from the American Water Works Association. He taught environmental science at Centenary College for three years. His wife Terri was a special education teacher in the Wharton public school system for over twenty years, then became principal of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Boonton for four years, and currently teaches at Montclair State University. Their three children are grown and live in New York, Pennsylvania and California.

“I look forward to listening to and working with the residents of Morris Plains in order to develop a vision and plan for our future.” If you are interested in supporting Frank’s campaign, please contact him at Frank.Mangravite@mpdems.org.