Bernie Daus
Middletown BOE Candidate

I am a lifelong Middletown resident, a husband, and a father of three children currently enrolled in our public schools. I am running for the Board of Education because I believe Middletown families deserve a school district that is trustworthy, accountable, and focused on delivering real value for taxpayers.

 

My wife and I have been married for 20 years and are raising three sons—one in elementary school, one in middle school, and one in high school. Like so many families in this community, we are directly invested in the quality and future of our schools every single day. My family’s connection to Middletown runs deep. We have lived here for roughly 100 years, beginning with my great-grandmother and grandmother. Today, five generations of my family have called Middletown home, including my parents, siblings, nieces, and nephews. This is not just where I live—it is where my family’s history and future are rooted.

 

I am a proud graduate of Middletown’s public schools, having attended kindergarten through high school. I went on to Brookdale Community College and later earned my undergraduate degree from Rutgers University, followed by a master’s degree from Georgetown University. Professionally, I have worked continuously since my first paper route at age ten.

 

For the past 21 years, I have been with the same organization, where I oversee the development, maintenance, and operation of a large portfolio of commercial properties in Edison, New Jersey. That experience has reinforced a simple principle: strong organizations depend on clear accountability, reliable information, disciplined planning, responsible financial management, and consistent execution.

 

I am running for the Middletown Township Board of Education because our district must do better at making decisions and communicating with the public. Too often, important decisions are supported by incomplete, inconsistent, or poorly explained information. When the data is unclear or unreliable, the decisions built on it cannot be trusted to serve students or taxpayers well. I have reviewed the Board of Education’s budgets, reports, facilities plans, and supporting materials, and I believe there are discrepancies and unanswered questions that deserve closer public examination.

 

Middletown families should be able to trust that major decisions are based on accurate information, sound analysis, and a clear understanding of long-term impact. Our school district must also create greater value for the taxpayers who support it.

 

Fiscal responsibility is not simply about spending less—it is about setting the right priorities, measuring outcomes, controlling long-term costs, and ensuring that every taxpayer dollar is used as effectively as possible to support student success. My goal is straightforward: restore confidence in the district through data-driven decision-making, responsible financial oversight, transparent planning, and measurable accountability.

 

Middletown deserves a Board of Education that asks tough questions, verifies the facts, creates value for taxpayers, sets clear priorities, and follows through with consistency and integrity.