/ Government/ Township Committee Bios

Township Committee Bios

Jim Van Arsdale

Jim Van Arsdale is a lifelong New Jersey resident who, along with his wife Connie, has called Green Brook home for nearly 30 years. Their adult children, Kathryn (Kat) and James, attended IEF, GBMS, and graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School.

Jim served on Green Brook Township volunteer boards from 2008 to 2018 before being elected to the Township Committee in 2018. He was re-elected in 2021 and 2024, serving as Deputy Mayor during his tenure and currently in his fourth year as Mayor.

Jim earned his B.S. in Finance from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina and completed his Master of Public Administration at Kent State University in May 2024. With over 35 years of experience in banking, finance, and wealth management, Jim retired in 2024 after a 20-year career with UBS. That same year, he was appointed a Sonoco Visiting Fellow in International Business at the Darla Moore School of Business, where he mentors Master of International Business students, collaborates with faculty, and delivers lectures on career development and international business. He also manages JR Van Arsdale Consulting LLC.

An active community leader, Jim serves on Green Brook Troop 129’s Operating Committee and has mentored numerous local Boy Scouts as a merit badge counselor. He has also dedicated over a decade to Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA, as a member of its Board of Trustees, his high school alma mater.

Previously, Jim volunteered as an audio describer for visually impaired patrons at McCarter Theatre in Princeton, where he also served on its Associates Board. His commitment to local causes extends to his years managing fundraising campaigns for New Jersey charities as a volunteer and board member for The United Way.

Jim Benscoter

James was born and raised in Somerville N.J. and has been a Somerset County resident for his entire life.  He moved onto Greenbrier Road in Green Brook, where he and his three sons – Aaron, William, and Eric – still reside.  While living in Green Brook, the Benscoter’s have been involved in Boy Scouts, little league, roller hockey, basketball, and soccer.

James was elected to Green Brook Board of Education in 2004 and served continuously until 2015.  He served as BOE President for nine (9) years, leaving to be appointed to the Township Committee in May 2015.  Since 2015, he has proudly served on Green Brook’s Land Use Board, Municipal Drug Alliance, and the Cultural, Heritage and Historic Preservation Committee, as well as serving as both Mayor and Deputy Mayor during this time.

James earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer, and his M.B.A from Rutgers.  He recently retired as the Director of Investment Planning, from PSE&G, after 31 years.  Currently, James enjoys working at H&R Block as a tax professional.

Brian Conway

Brian grew up on the Route 22 corridor in New Jersey and has lived in Green Brook for more than 20 years, raising his family here.

A Graduate of Cook College, Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Planning and Design, Brian is a Licensed Landscape Architect And Licensed Professional Planner with more than 30 years of experience in Land Use, Municipal Planning and development on all levels. Brian owned and operated a local small business for more than 23 years. Brian has been an adjunct instructor for Temple University and Rutgers University.  He is currently employed by Casey & Keller in Millburn as a Project Manager, Planner, and Landscape Architect.

Brian has been actively involved in the Green Brook community for many years volunteering countless hours of service.  He was involved in Breen Brook Hockey for more than 10 years as a coach, Vice President and ultimately President. Brian served on the Land Use Board, Open Space, Environmental Commission, and Flood Control.

Jerry Searfoss

Jerry is a twenty nine year resident of Green Brook and life long New Jerseyan. He is married to Kate and they have raised 3 boys in Green Brook; Matthew, Drew and Timothy, all of whom attended Green Brook schools and Watchung Hills High School. Jerry and Kate have volunteered on numerous occasions for Little League, Pop Warner football, Watchung Hills Wrestling, Somerset County Vo-Tech, GBMS theater, Cub Scouts, river clean-ups, junk days, disaster relief, Operation Shoebox, Green Brook Lions, Arthur Lewis Park, Oktoberfest etc.

Jerry initially filled an open seat on the Township Committee in 2006 and then was elected in 2007. He is currently the longest serving member at 17 years. Jerry has served as Mayor 3 times and Deputy Mayor for 4 years. He has served on every existing committee with the sole purpose of maintaining Green Brook as a premier residential town in Somerset County.

Jerry has been in the financial services industry for over 35 years with an emphasis on the automotive sector. He looks forward to continuing his service as an elected official and improving the quality of life in Green Brook.

Bruce Martins

Bruce Martins has been a long time resident of Green Brook for almost 50 years and has been actively involved in the community through various forms of service.  Bruce currently serves as a member of Green Brook’s Land Use Board, but his involvement in town service has spanned over two decades.

Bruce and his wife Tina have raised their two sons in Green Brook, where they attended school in the district and participated in town sports.  Bruce coached Little League for several years during the time their sons played baseball, but also participated as a volunteer and coach for other sports and events offered in town.  Additionally, Bruce was a member of the Green Brook School District Board of Education for twelve years.  During this time, he held various roles, including chair of the Finance committee and key participant in the teacher contract negotiations.  He was also appointed as the Green Brook liaison to the Watchung Hills Regional High School Board of Education, representing the Green Brook students in attendance.  Bruce also held the position of President for the Green Brook School District Board of Education, for three years.

Bruce works in the power generation and gas transmission business and has been employed by Solar Turbines, a subsidiary of Caterpillar, for 30 years.  He is currently the Principal Fleet Manager for the Northeast region. Bruce holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine, and a Masters of Science in Management from NJIT located in Newark, NJ.