Email: ariana.cohn-sheehan@patch.com
Phone: 973-477-4062
Birthday: Oct. 6, 1985
Hometown: Kinnelon

You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of the girl, right? After spending six years living in upstate New York, Ariana Sheehan is back near her hometown of Kinnelon, covering the tri-boro and Montville areas.

Ariana has seven years of professional journalism experience, having worked as a reporter and editor for both daily and weekly newspapers. As a reporter, she was responsible for covering municipal government, school districts, community features, countywide stories and local elections. She also covered New York State government exclusively for a government-themed weekly newspaper, The Legislative Gazette.

In 2008, a story Ariana had written for Spotlight Newspapers uncovering a personnel issue that encouraged transparency in a school district won her a New York Press Association First Place Award.

Ariana also has experience working on "the other side," in public relations. In her free time, she enjoys taking her dogs, Rocky and Izzy, on walks.

Your Beliefs
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Politics 
How would you describe your political beliefs?
Are you registered with a certain party?

Liberal. I'm a recently registered voter in the state of New Jersey.

Religion
How religious would you consider yourself? (casual, observant, devout, non religious)

I consider myself casually religious. I am Jewish.

Local Hot-Button Issues
What do you think are the most important issues facing the community?
Where do you stand on each of these issues?

I want to know more about where the money goes when residents pay their tax bills and if the money our municipalities spend is proven to enhance quality of life. If not, I want to know why more residents don't fight for a difference in their communities and want to help provide a platform for their voices to be heard.