BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP, NJ – It was standing room only on a chilly Saturday morning at the Bordentown Township municipal building when the Township Committee reorganized with Eric Holliday selected to serve as Mayor for 2025.

Committeeman Eugene Fuzy, who served as Mayor in 2024 after the untimely passing of the late Mayor Benowitz, will serve as Deputy Mayor for 2025.  

He called 2024 “a year of great change” in the Bordentown Township government and community progress, noting items, such as the groundbreaking of the municipal building and small group mayor/citizen meetings. Fuzy said he is looking forward to building upon the success of the past year by working with Holliday and the committee on local projects, including roadwork, parks, playgrounds, and more. 

Committeewoman Kelly Lozito was sworn into a full-term on the Committee, which she won in the November election.  She was appointed a year ago also following Benowitz's death. 

“This moment is not just mine. It's the result of decades of women breaking barriers; fighting for equality; striving to be seen, heard, and valued in all aspects of life,” said Lozito. “It is now my job to ensure the perspective of and impact on women of future generations is respected in any policy decisions that I can control.”

“We are here to build a community where every resident feels seen, heard and valued; a community where our young people, who are not just the future but the leaders of today, feel empowered to lead, create and make an impact,” said Lozito.

In accordance with laws governing a local committee such as Bordentown Township, Holliday was administered his committee-person oath of office for a new term by State Senator Troy Singleton.  He was selected by his fellow committee members to serve as mayor for the coming year. 

Holliday was then administered the mayoral oath of office by Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, who is running for New Jersey Governor this year.  In his remarks, he said they have been long-time friends as a result of his work in north Jersey.   Holliday's succession to the mayor's chair marks the first LGBTQ+ individual to hold the office in Bordentown Township. 

In his remarks, he underscored his pro-union stance and background that he will bring to the mayor's office. He pointed out the use of a project labor agreement in the construction of the municipal building to ensure that those working on it are trained tradespeople in the region.  

“I don't want someone coming in here from PA or wherever who's not union work. I don't need a painter saying ‘today you’re a painter but tomorrow you're doing electrical work.'  I'm not about that,” said Holliday.

He says that the municipal building has served the town well-past its expected lifespan and also pointed out that the new building will help the police department “finally get out of the basement" of the municipal building after 40 years.

Holliday says he's looking forward to “doing what we've been doing,” including working on affordable housing to help residents find quality homes. 

He says the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) “has really gone full-fledged and is doing a great job" noting that there will be a new emergency operations center in the forthcoming municipal building. 

In his closing remarks to the ceremony, Mayor Holliday stressed that the committee works as a team with each member bringing their personal strong suits to the community.  He praised the business growth in Bordentown Township, such as the recently opened Jersey Mike's shop and the forthcoming Sherwin-Williams store. 

Finally, the mayor thanked members of the community who volunteered their personal time to serve on boards and on commissions.

“It's the team that makes you successful,” said Holliday.

The January 4 ceremony brought notable elected officials to Bordentown Township, including Singleton; Assemblywoman Carol Murphy; Burlington County Sheriff James Kostoplis; President of the Mercer-Burlington Counties Building and Construction Trades Wayne DeAngelo; Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy; Bordentown Township Police Chief Nathan Roohr; and Moorestown Mayor Nicole Gillespie. 

Original Article