Chris Venis (R)

Montgomery Township Committee 2026 Candidates

Chris Venis (R) is running against Township Committeeman Doug Herring (D) for a 2-year-term. Herring was appointed in July to fill the unexpired term of Vince Barragan (D)

Q:  

Q: How many years have you lived in Montgomery?

A:   Eight years.

Q:  Where do you work/job title?

A:  I have spent much of my career in government relations and public affairs, and I currently work with a hospital healthcare company. My professional background has given me extensive experience working with government, businesses, community organizations and public officials to solve problems and bring people with different perspectives together.

Q:  Education

A:  I earned my B.A. and M.Ed. in International Relations and Foreign Policy from East Stroudsburg University

Q: :Family/Personal

A:  I have two adult children, both of whom were collegiate lacrosse players and earned all-conference honors. My son currently works in municipal recreation, and my daughter is studying neuroscience.

Q:  What is your top priority if elected?

A:   My top priority is restoring residents to the center of the decision-making process. Too often, residents feel they learn about important decisions after the direction has already been determined.

I want major issues affecting development, taxes, public safety and the character of Montgomery discussed openly, early, and with meaningful opportunities for residents to participate.

I would also like Montgomery to have a serious conversation about our form of government. Residents elect five Township Committee members, but they do not directly elect their mayor. Each January, the five committee members select one of their own members to serve as mayor for that year. I believe residents should understand how that system works and have an opportunity to consider whether a different form of government would provide greater accountability and direct representation.

Whatever someone’s political affiliation, every Montgomery resident deserves to feel that his or her voice matters.

Q:  What differentiates you from the other candidates? 

A:  Experience. I have spent a lifetime working in and around government. I previously served as deputy mayor of Hillsborough and as a police liaison, and I served as Chief of Staff at the NJ Department of Corrections. I have also spent much of my professional career in government relations. That experience taught me how government actually works: how budgets are developed, how policy decisions are made, how public agencies operate and, most importantly, how to bring people together to get things accomplished.

I would bring that experience to Montgomery, but I would also bring something equally important: a willingness to listen. Good government isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions, getting the facts and making decisions in the best interests of the community.

Q: :What would you like to see on the former J&J/Kenvue campus? 

A:  The reality is that this is an already-developed commercial/industrial property and something will eventually happen there. The question is what use provides the greatest long-term benefit to Montgomery while creating the least burden on our residents and infrastructure.

I would like to see an independent, fact-based feasibility study examining all realistic options for the site, including whether a carefully regulated data center could make sense.

That analysis should examine tax revenue, permanent jobs, electricity demand, water use, noise, traffic, emergency-services requirements, environmental impacts and infrastructure costs. It should also compare a data center with the realistic alternatives for the property, including light manufacturing, research and development, other commercial uses and residential development.

I don’t believe Montgomery should embrace a data center simply because other communities have benefited from them, nor do I believe we should reject the concept without understanding the facts. If an alternative use could provide substantial revenue while protecting taxpayers and Montgomery’s quality of life, residents deserve to see the analysis.

Q:  What is your position on allowing Flock automated license plate reader cameras in the township? 

A:   I support the limited and responsible use of license plate reader technology when our police department determines that it can meaningfully improve public safety. At the same time, public safety and personal privacy are both important. Any system should have clear policies governing where cameras are located, how long data is retained, who can access it and how that information can be shared. I would want our police professionals to have useful tools to protect residents while ensuring that appropriate safeguards and oversight are in place.

Q:  What are your three main issues? 

A:   1. Greater transparency and resident involvement in local government. Residents should know about major decisions early enough to have meaningful input, and I would like Montgomery to examine whether our current form of government provides the level of accountability and representation residents expect.

2. A responsible plan for the former J&J/Kenvue property. This is one of the most consequential land-use decisions Montgomery will face. We should evaluate realistic alternatives objectively, including their financial, environmental and infrastructure impacts, before deciding what is best for the community.

3. Transparent, accountable government. Residents deserve to understand how their tax dollars are being spent, why major decisions are being made and what alternatives were considered. I want a culture in which questions from residents are welcomed rather than viewed as an inconvenience.

Q:  What would somebody be surprised to know about you?

A:   I’m a master’s-level wine expert and have spent years studying wine and winemaking. I’m also deeply interested in U.S. foreign policy and history. If I’m not talking about Montgomery government, there’s a good chance I can be convinced to talk about history, international affairs, or a great bottle of wine.