Truth. Action. Service.

Micaela Bennett is an attorney, forensic clinician, educator, and community advocate whose career has been defined by public service, problem-solving, and a deep commitment to strengthening communities. Holding both a Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School and a Master of Social Work degree, Micaela brings a rare combination of legal expertise, clinical insight, investigative experience, and compassion to her work in both the public and private sectors.

Over the course of her career, Micaela has worked on the front lines supporting children, families, and vulnerable populations. As a trained forensic clinician, she specializes in identifying root causes, conducting complex investigations, assessing risk, and developing practical, people-centered solutions to difficult challenges. Her work has consistently focused on protecting individuals, building trust, and advancing safer, healthier communities.

Micaela began her career working with children in foster care — a mission deeply personal to her as an adoptee herself. Her early social work career included direct work with children and families, clinical supervision, and providing expert testimony in family courts throughout New York City. While completing law school, her professional focus evolved toward the intersection of clinical practice and the law.

After passing both the New Jersey and New York bar exams, Micaela joined the State of New Jersey following clerkships with two of Essex County’s most respected judges. Drawing on her extensive clinical background, she spent nearly 15 years with the Department of Health’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, guiding practice across five state psychiatric hospitals and helping implement gubernatorial initiatives focused on mental health care, accountability, and systems improvement.

Micaela currently serves in executive leadership as the Privacy Lead at a national healthcare company, where she helps shape organizational strategy, strengthen systems of care, and improve outcomes for the individuals and communities the organization serves. She is a certified compliance and privacy professional, a licensed real estate referral agent, and an educator who teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in subjects including Business Law, Corporate Responsibility & Ethics, Environmental Sociology, and Culture & Society.

Her commitment to public service extends well beyond her professional career. Micaela serves on the Citizen’s Budget Advisory Board, helping provide thoughtful fiscal oversight and ensure taxpayer resources are managed responsibly and effectively. Throughout Essex County, she has also been an active volunteer and community leader, serving on the Orange Zoning Board and supporting organizations including the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals, the LGBT RAIN Foundation of Essex County, and several West Orange High School parent booster organizations.

Micaela’s values were shaped early by her family. She attended New York University for graduate school, following in her father’s footsteps. From him, she inherited a deep respect for cultural understanding, a belief in the dignity and value of every person, and a conviction that strong communities are built through empathy, listening, and collaboration. A respected bridge-builder and truth-teller in his own right, he modeled the importance of integrity, civic engagement, and bringing people together across differences — principles that continue to guide Micaela’s leadership today.

While proud of her professional accomplishments, Micaela considers her greatest achievement to be the life she and her husband, Sahib Bennett, have built together in West Orange. Married since 2002, Sahib is an engineer and serves as a Trustee for Mountaintop League Basketball, reflecting the family’s shared commitment to youth development and community engagement. Together, they have raised a family grounded in service, education, and civic responsibility. Their son, Robeson Bennett, recently completed his freshman year at Cornell University, where he is studying Civil and Environmental Engineering.

In early 2026, the Bennett household expanded to include Micaela’s mother-in-law, Marsha, who has since become actively involved in senior programming throughout West Orange and a strong supporter of Micaela’s campaign and community work.

The family also includes Bandit, the rescue dog they adopted in 2018, who quickly earned a reputation as the household’s loyal and watchful protector.

Micaela credits her mother with nurturing her lifelong love of cooking, Girl Scouts, and crafting — experiences that instilled creativity, patience, and an appreciation for bringing people together. Those values continue to shape her approach to both community service and leadership.

Outside of work and volunteer service, Micaela enjoys walking at the reservoir, gardening, experimenting with new recipes, and relaxing poolside with a good book. She is a fan of Bridgerton and The Lincoln Lawyer. Living alongside protected wetlands in West Orange has also deepened her commitment to environmental stewardship and preserving the township’s natural beauty and character for future generations.

As a candidate for West Orange Township Council, Micaela Bennett is committed to transparent government, safe neighborhoods, responsible development, and ensuring West Orange remains a vibrant and welcoming community for families, seniors, and small businesses alike. She believes effective local leadership begins with listening, collaboration, and putting residents first.

Micaela is proud to call West Orange home and is ready to bring experienced, compassionate, and forward-looking leadership to the Township Council.