PERSON: Chris Bollwage

Elizabeth, New Jersey

Mayor

Now in his twentieth year as Mayor of Elizabeth, a diverse city of more than 125,000 and the fourth largest city in New Jersey, J. Christian Bollwage has created a more efficient city government while sparking $800 million in economic redevelopment which will see the city into the 21st century. Mayor Bollwage, a native of the city, was elected to his first term in 1992, reelected in November 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012.

Mayor Bollwage announced his vision of the future of Elizabeth, which included “Go-Green” initiatives, the collegiate corridor concept, remodeling of Midtown train station as well as the expansion of economic development, recreation, housing and transportation. The Mayor also unveiled a foreclosure assistance program and a Healthy Elizabeth initiative.

Maintaining his commitment to improving public safety, the Mayor’s police initiatives include: the addition of 17 new police officers through the COPS Hiring Recovery Program; new camera surveillance network; and installation of the state-of-the-art Elizabeth Police Information and Communication System, which improves police response time and gives responding officers more information at the scene. As we enter the second decade of the 21st century, Mayor Bollwage provides Elizabeth with the most technologically advanced police force in the state of New Jersey.

The City's ongoing economic redevelopment plans have already brought The Elizabeth Center at 13A, which is home to IKEA, the chain's most successful North American store, and the Toys R Us/Kids World Superstore. Across the street from this development is the Jersey Gardens Mall, located on Kapkowski Road. The megamall, which opened in October of 1999, was constructed on the site of a former municipal landfill and brought 5,000 new jobs and more than $6.5 million in new ratables to the city and will celebrate its twelfth anniversary this year.

Currently, the Mayor is an adjunct professor in the Public Administration Department at Kean University in Union, New Jersey, where he teaches undergraduate courses in Public Administration. Also a graduate of Kean University, Mayor Bollwage holds a graduate degree with honors in Public Administration, has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award, and was later inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society. Before becoming Mayor, Chris Bollwage was a Councilman for 10 years, serving as Council President in 1989. He was also a member of the Elizabeth Planning Board for four years.

Prior to holding elected office, the Mayor served as a sales, marketing and public relations representative for A&J Trading Corporation of Linden and Traffic Coordinator for Kerr Steamship Incorporated, New York City.

Mayor Bollwage and his wife, Nancy, have a daughter, Jacqueline.

-- facebook.com/MayorBollwage/info