Andrew Garcia Phillips
Andrew,
for Rahway City Council
VOTE JUNE 2, 2026 DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
"Fighting for my neighbors — informing them, using my voice to speak out for them — is something I have always done. I am excited to bring that spirit to city council."
Andrew garcia phillips
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL
Why I want to serve
City Council needs a voice at the table that asks hard questions. The lack of that kind of voice allowed the library to be defunded, leads to long term tax breaks for wealthy developers, and threatens to fast-track the sale of our public water utility.Good democracies and healthy communities are built by bringing together competing ideas and doing the work to find solutions for everyone. I have been a part of these conversations in my work as a journalist at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Star-Ledger. And I use my voice in Rahway to stand up at City Council meetings to ask our leaders to be more thoughtful rather than rubber-stamping the agenda each month.No one outside the Democratic establishment has had a seat at the table in Rahway city government in at least 25 years. I am a Democrat, too. But it is time Rahway had leaders who prioritize people over the party itself. I need your vote to make that change.
Protect
Rahway
Resources
Support Rahway Public Library, advocate for increased funding, increased hours and support for library staff. Andrew helped lead the fight to properly fund the library and additional work is needed to make sure the city's support continues.
Keep Water Utility city-owned. Administration is still considering selling our water utility next year, which would mean reduced local control and higher rates.
Pave neglected streets, access state and federal grants to pay for repair on poorly maintained sections of Rahway road network.
Stop
Developer
Giveaways
Redevelopment is healthy, but developers should pay their own way. No more tax breaks that benefit developers more than Rahway residents.
Existing PILOT deals for downtown buildings should be audited to ensure compliance. Those that do not comply can be converted to regular tax payers.
Fight for
Affordability
Rights for renters, limit rent increases, afforable housing in new developments
Expand city shuttle bus service, including access for seniors and disabled, and add access for everyone: neighborhood shuttles to common destinations
Drinkable tap water
Free public WIFI
Sustainability in a Flood Zone
Almost all of Rahway sits in a flood zone, we need a plan for how we survive the next storm and how we thrive in a future with increasing challenges. Failing to plan puts Rahway's entire future in crisis.
About Andrew
Syracuse University graduate, Newhouse School of Public Communications, Bachelors degree in Journalism,
Award-winning journalist at The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Star-Ledger.
Small business owner, data visualization consultant for Major League Baseball; Rahway artist of the year 2014
Longtime president of Rahway T&C condominiums
Husband, father — raised two sons in Rahway school system
Active community volunteer: soccer coach; Boy Scout leader for more than 20 years; Cosecha immigrant rights rapid response; member of Indivisible Rahway grassroots Democratic organizing
Other issues
Andrew aligns with the progressive Bernie Sanders / Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez / Zohran Mamdani wing of the Democratic Party.Andrew believes in science, Medicare for all, tax the rich, corporations are not people, believe women, immigrants make our country great, abolish ICE, end the war, love is love, Black Lives Matter, made by humans.
How you can help
Tell your friends and neighbors
Hand out flyers
Host a lawn sign