Mayor Jason F. Cilento

Born and raised in Dunellen, Jason was educated at both its public elementary and high school before earning his B.A. in Political Science from Kean University and his Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University. Jason was first elected to Borough Council at the age of 20 and served in that position for nine years. He also served as Council President in 2019 before being elected as the

Mayor of New Jersey’s Miracle Mile. Mayor Cilento has promoted a business-friendly environment and has been energetic in his efforts to enhance economic development in downtown Dunellen. Since taking office in 2020, Cilento has worked assiduously to attract new developers to Dunellen’s Central Business District, as well as working with existing property owners to invigorate current building facades in the downtown. This has led to six new mixed use and/or residential developments being proposed and/or approved and several existing buildings having completed facade and facility improvements. Overall, within his first term as mayor, Cilento has been able to attract near $38 million in investments through new developments and facade improvements in downtown Dunellen. Cilento has also worked closely with NJTransit to make improvements to the Dunellen Train Station and most recently worked closely with the agency to apply for a federal grant to modernize the train station. If granted, these federal dollars will greatly assist Dunellen in its revitalization efforts. Cilento has led the efforts of amending Dunellen’s Redevelopment Plans to encourage an enhanced smart growth development approach for Dunellen, requiring improved parking opportunities for each development and public use, streetscape improvements that include the planting of native species, rain gardens and increased pervious sidewalk space to encourage a better pedestrian experience and help control storm water run-off, as well as decorative lighting, planting pots and benches. He has spearheaded three interconnected planning initiatives that will guide the Borough’s decision making over the next decade. The first planning initiative is the Master Plan Reexamination, which has been inclusive of one of New Jersey’s first Climate Resiliency Plan elements, as per a new requirement in the MLUL; the Active Transportation Study by NJ TRANSIT’s Transit Friendly Planning Program, which will propose pedestrian improvements, bike routes and bike facilities in Dunellen; and the Complete and Green Streets for All policy by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority that will provide street design guidelines. The three complementary planning efforts will help Dunellen develop a multi-pronged comprehensive approach towards its growth and development. In addition to economic development efforts, Mayor Cilento is proud to have led efforts to improve Dunellen’s aging infrastructure such as making investments in sewer improvements, utilities, park improvements, and most notably, investing in road improvements - having paved close to five miles of Dunellen’s 17 miles of roads to date, and augmenting pedestrian and traffic safety measures. He has also worked closely with Council Members to deliver responsible budgets. As an advocate for his constituents, Cilento has focused on increasing community engagement between residents and business-owners to their local government through better communications, both in print and digitally, making all Council meetings virtual, making volunteer opportunities more accessible and inclusive, and hosting town halls throughout the year to discuss important topics. During his time as Mayor, Cilento has worked across the aisle with Council-Members to enact stronger and more enforceable ordinances against polluting waterways and the overuse of public garbage receptacles from multi-use properties downtown. In addition, he’s enacted an ordinance that limits the amount of handbills and circulars that are placed on resident properties from private and unsolicited vendors. These ordinances were enacted to not only improve the aesthetics of Dunellen’s small community, but also prevent debris from harming the storm water system. Cilento recognizes the importance of preserving Dunellen’s natural beauty and advocating for cleaner and more sustainable neighborhoods, noting how each community playing its part adds to the bigger picture. Cilento also led Dunellen through the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery from Hurricane Ida. In addition to serving Dunellen, Mayor Cilento is currently the 3rd Vice President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, representing mayors and their municipalities across the State of New Jersey, as well as sitting on committees for the New Jersey League of Municipalities. Cilento is the only New Jersey Republican mayor to sit as a member of Climate Mayors, working with mayors across the US to maintain and expand environmental protections, as well as serving as a member of the Leaders for Climate Accountability. Cilento has worked alongside a coalition of bi-partisan mayors along the Raritan Valley Rail Line to fight for direct service New York City. Mayor Cilento also joined other regional mayors in an initiative called the Mayors Alliance for a Clean Green Brook Waterway. Mayor Cilento is honored to serve as mayor of the hometown that helped raise him. He looks forward to calling Dunellen home for years to come with his wife Lindsay and creating a place where all are proud to call home.