James H. Ward, III

South Ward Councilmember

James H. Ward, III serves as the South Ward Council Representative for the City of Orange Township, bringing to public office a background that spans architecture, construction, education, civic leadership, environmental advocacy, and neighborhood organizing.

Trained as an architect, Councilman Ward earned a Master of Architecture degree and was educated at Pratt Institute. He has spent more than 15 years working in construction management, helping lead complex projects from planning through execution. He currently serves as a professor at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, teaching in the Master of Science in Project Management program, where he brings real-world experience in design, construction, leadership, and project delivery into the classroom.

Before joining the City Council, Ward developed a long record of service in Orange and the surrounding community. He served as Chair of the City of Orange Township Zoning Board of Adjustment, gaining firsthand experience with land use, development, neighborhood character, and the long-term impact that planning decisions have on residents. He also served as Second Vice President of the NAACP Oranges and Maplewood Branch and as Chair of its Environmental and Climate Justice Committee, where he worked to connect environmental issues with public health, equity, neighborhood investment, and quality of life.

Ward has also served as a member of the ValleyArts board, supporting the role of arts, culture, and creative placemaking in strengthening the Valley and the broader Orange community.

His path into elected office grew directly from neighborhood service. As founder of the Seven Oaks Society, Ward helped build a resident-led organization focused on strengthening community connections, sharing information, addressing neighborhood concerns, and encouraging greater civic participation.

The Seven Oaks Society also developed a philanthropic arm dedicated to direct community service. Its work has included school beautification projects, neighborhood improvement efforts, and an annual winter coat drive that has crowdsourced thousands of new coats, jackets, and sweaters for distribution to local families each year since 2020. Through these efforts, the organization has brought together residents, donors, volunteers, and community partners around a shared commitment to service and mutual support.

That experience helped propel Ward into broader public service and shaped his belief that effective government begins with strong neighborhoods, active residents, and leaders who are present, accessible, and willing to do the work alongside the community.

As a father of three young children, Ward brings a deeply personal perspective to public service. His priorities include improving streets and public infrastructure, strengthening constituent services, supporting responsible redevelopment, expanding the city’s tree canopy and public spaces, and making municipal information easier for residents to access and understand. He has also focused on modernizing the way the City uses data and technology so residents can more easily follow legislation, municipal spending, neighborhood projects, and other matters before local government.