Carlos Rivas Brings 20 Years of Service to Linden Mayor's Race

Carlos A. Rivas has spent nearly two decades building his life in Linden—raising his family, serving neighbors, and building the community he calls home. Now, as an Independent candidate running with "Change for Linden," he's bringing that same commitment to the mayor's race ahead of the November 3 election.

Rivas's path to public service began at 14 when he represented high school students in his native country. After arriving in the United States at 17 to pursue his passion for political science, he quickly became involved in community organizations and advocacy work. Over decades, he developed a philosophy centered on a simple idea: leadership means listening, caring, showing up, and serving others.

In Linden, that commitment has taken many forms. Rivas served as a 5th Ward Councilman, member and President of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, member and President of the Board of Education, and President of School No. 4's Parent-Teacher Organization. Beyond elected roles, he has volunteered as a community advocate for New Jersey's Spanish-speaking residents. Each position has given him direct experience working with families, educators, city employees, and neighbors.

Professionally, Rivas manages operations for one of the nation's largest airlines at Newark Liberty International Airport, overseeing teams and budgets while focusing on customer service, safety, teamwork, problem-solving, and accountability—skills he says prepared him for the demands of city leadership.

Running as an Independent allows Rivas to operate without allegiance to party politics or special interests. His focus, he says, is on residents' voices. "My loyalty is to the people of Linden and not to a political party or special interests," he states.

His platform centers on responsiveness. Rivas hears repeated concerns from residents: city services need attention, infrastructure should match development pace, traffic needs improvement, and financial accountability matters. He proposes making City Hall more accessible by holding regular town halls, neighborhood forums, and public feedback sessions on major decisions. Residents should know where to bring concerns and when to expect answers.

First-year priorities include: Reviewing basic city services like street sweeping, road maintenance, tree trimming, and snow removal; examining city finances, spending, and debt to reduce unnecessary costs while pursuing outside funding; ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development; and expanding opportunities for young people and seniors while strengthening public safety.

Union County Life recognizes Rivas as a candidate with deep community ties and a track record of service across multiple roles. Linden voters will decide on November 3.

FAQ

Q: Who is Carlos A. Rivas?
A: Carlos A. Rivas is an Independent candidate for Linden mayor who has lived in Linden for nearly 20 years. He has served as a 5th Ward Councilman, Zoning Board president, Board of Education president, and School No. 4 PTO president. Professionally, he manages operations for a major airline at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Q: Why is Rivas running as an Independent?
A: Rivas says running as an Independent allows him to approach local government with an open mind without allegiance to political parties or special interests. He states his loyalty is to Linden residents.

Q: What are Rivas's main concerns about Linden?
A: Rivas has heard from residents about concerns regarding city services reliability, infrastructure capacity for development, traffic flow, and financial accountability. He emphasizes that residents' voices need to be heard before decisions are made.

Q: How would Rivas make City Hall more responsive?
A: Rivas proposes regular town halls, neighborhood forums, and public feedback opportunities on major ordinances and policies. He also commits to clarifying where residents can bring concerns and when to expect answers.

Q: What would be his first-year priorities as mayor?
A: Rivas's first-year priorities include reviewing basic city services (street sweeping, road maintenance, tree trimming, snow removal), examining city finances and debt, ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with development, expanding opportunities for youth and seniors, and improving traffic flow and public safety.

Q: What is Rivas's background in community service?
A: Rivas began public service at age 14 representing high school students in his native country. In Linden, he has held multiple leadership positions in education, zoning, and city government, plus volunteered as an advocate for Spanish-speaking residents.

Q: When is the Linden mayoral election?
A: The election is November 3, 2026. Voters will choose among candidates on the ballot.