Full TAPintoBloomfield Responses: Meet Satenik Margaryan - A Candidate for Town Council Member at Large

By Satenik Margaryan

Satenik Margaryan - Candidate for Bloomfield Township Council Member at Large. Photo Credit: Tracy Toler-Phillips

A week ago, Bloomfield Democrats for Change were invited by a TapIntoBloomfield journalist to respond to four questions. Now that the article has been published, we’re sharing our full responses here for readers interested in learning more about our team. Below are the questions and the asnwers we supplied, without any edits.

TAPintoBloomfield Interview - Satenik Margaryan

Why are you running for these positions?

As a nearly 14-year resident of Bloomfield, I have stepped forward to run for office as Bloomfield Council Member at Large because I believe in a more transparent, accountable, and sustainable township — one that truly serves its residents.

I am running for Town Council At-Large because I believe Bloomfield deserves strong, engaged leadership. For years, I’ve been an active member of this community. I’ve served as a Civil Rights Commissioner, a member of the Friends of Watsessing Park Conservancy, member of Bloomfield Citizen Solar Campaign, and spent ten years on Watsessing Home and School. I currently serve on the Rent Leveling Board. Now, I am ready to take the next step by bringing my experience and values to the decision-making table. With a vote on the council, I can help turn our slate’s shared vision for Bloomfield into real policy.

Will this be your first introduction to the Bloomfield Township Council?

This is my first time running for a seat on the Township Council, but I have been actively engaged with its work for years. I have attended numerous meetings, delivered public comments, written about council decisions on my Substack, and regularly reached out to advocate for change. I have also encouraged my neighbors to get involved, helping to build a more informed and engaged community. While I haven’t held office, I have treated public participation as a responsibility and now I am ready to take the next step by serving.

What are some challenges you face running against an incumbent mayor and her running mates?

Running against an incumbent mayor and her slate comes with real challenges. They have the full backing of the Essex County Democratic Committee, along with the visibility and influence that come with the county support. In contrast, we are running as grassroots challengers without this institutional support. Both Tracy Toler-Phillips and I are elected Democratic County Committee members in Bloomfield (Ward 3, District 2), but we chose not to seek the county line because we believe voters deserve a genuine choice and not a pre-decided outcome.

Incumbents naturally have more public visibility. The mayor regularly uses her platform to promote herself and her running mates at community events, town meetings, and online forums. We don’t have that same access, but we are working hard to meet residents face-to-face, listen to their concerns, and earn their trust one conversation at a time.

What do you bring to these positions that others might not?

What sets me apart is a combination of academic training, community engagement, and lived experience. I hold graduate degrees in Public Administration and Criminal Justice, as well as a Ph.D., which allow me to approach public policy with both scholarly rigor and practical insight. I focus on evidence-based solutions that can genuinely address Bloomfield’s challenges.

Over the years, I have built deep, trusted relationships with residents across Bloomfield. I have listened closely and I understand the issues people care about most: making our town more affordable, protecting neighborhoods from flooding, ensuring public safety, and restoring residents’ voices in decisions that affect their lives.

As an immigrant, I have a deep appreciation for the promise of American democracy and the responsibility that comes with it. Whether in the classroom as a college professor or in the community, I am committed to protecting that promise and ensuring our government is inclusive, transparent, and accountable.