Originally Posted on TAPinto Summit | October 7th, 2025 | By Tom Szieber, Candidate for Summit Common Council, Ward 2
Keeping Summit Safe. Building on Proven Results.
When Tom Szieber and his wife chose to stay in Summit to begin their married life, it was because of what makes this community special—its safety, character, and sense of belonging. But in the months that followed, rising burglaries, car thefts, and home invasions made it clear that Summit’s public safety was at risk.
In 2023, Summit residents voted for change—electing the Together for Summit team of Elizabeth Fagan, Kevin Smallwood, Bob Pawlowski, and Jamel Boyer, alongside Councilwomen Delia Hamlet and Lisa Allen. Together, they took immediate action, passing the Resident Protection Ordinance (RPO) to strengthen local accountability for crime. This policy, now replicated across other New Jersey towns, empowered Summit to charge offenders at the municipal level—creating a strong deterrent that worked.
The results speak for themselves:
-
Burglaries to vehicles dropped from 82 in 2023 to just 3 in the first half of 2025.
-
Stolen vehicles fell from 24 to 6.
-
Home burglaries declined from 39 to 7.
Tom’s commitment to continuing this success is personal and professional. As a lawyer, he values data-driven solutions. As a board member of the Summit PAL and a mental health nonprofit, he understands that true public safety depends on strong community relationships and mental wellness.
He’s running for Council in Ward 2 to ensure Summit’s progress doesn’t slip backward. One election, he warns, could undo years of effective reform.
Vote for Tom Szieber—because keeping Summit safe means keeping proven leadership in place.
See the full post here on TAPinto