Meet Our Elected Officials

Mendham Township Committee: Amalia Duarte

Committeewoman Amalia Duarte was re-elected to a third term on Nov. 7, 2023. Prior to first running for office in 2017, she volunteered as a youth sports coach and served on township and nonprofit boards. She served as Co-Chair of the Rebuild Ralston Playground fundraising campaign in 2017.

As a member of the Township Committee, she has been instrumental in speaking out against over-development; hiring a part-time Recreation Director who has revitalized Brookside Beach; and worked with Morris County officials to get the township back to single-stream recycling.

In her 2023 campaign, Committeewoman Duarte was endorsed by the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters for her consistent, strong voice against overdevelopment and in favor of conservation. She was the only Township Committee member to vote against rezoning the Irene Spring Tree Farm property in 2021 that allowed a developer to clear-cut forest and build more houses. She invited representatives from the Highlands Council to discuss the program in 2022 and successfully pushed for the township to undertake an initial assessment to determine whether or not to join, at no cost to the township.

She has fought for greater transparency and holds regular open Office Hours to continue speaking with residents. She launched and chaired an Ad Hoc Communications Committee, and this group of volunteers produced a report of recommendations in June 2018. The result was a completely redesigned Township Website, a new e-mail newsletter “Mendhams Matters” produced on a monthly basis, and community forums.

​She successfully proposed adding students as members to the Environmental Commission, Historic Preservation Committee and Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee to give them an opportunity to learn about local government and serve their community.

She spearheaded the township joining the Morris County Stigma-Free Initiative and leads the Mendhams Stigma-Free Community Task Force, in partnership with Mendham Borough. This broad effort focuses on supporting individuals and families faced with issues around substance use, mental health, special needs and more. She championed the passage of the township’s first Proclamation for June as Pride Month; and a Welcoming Proclamation; and for recognition of Autism Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Month, Hispanic History Month and Women’s History Month.

Mendham Township Committee: Lauren Spirig

Lauren Spirig was re-elected to her second term on the Township Committee on November 4, 2025. During her first term, in 2024, she became the first Democratic deputy mayor in Mendham Township’s history. She has lived in the Township since 2017 with her husband, John, and their two children, Luke and Zoey, who attend Mendham Township Elementary School (where Lauren is the PTO Treasurer and an active volunteer). Lauren has a master’s degree in public administration from New York University and is a graduate of Boston College. She has spent 20 years in nonprofit management, and currently works in fundraising for a nonprofit global supply chain mapping platform.

Lauren serves as Township Committee Liaison to the following: First Aid, Library, Recreation, Tree Committee, Schools (Mendham Township), Schools (Regional).