Mayor of Montclair, New Jersey facts for kids

Montclair, New Jersey, is a vibrant town where important decisions are made every day. Who helps make these decisions and leads the town? That's the job of the mayor! A mayor is like the head of the town's government. They work with a council to make sure the town runs smoothly. This includes everything from keeping parks clean to planning new community projects.

What Does a Mayor Do?

A mayor is the chief leader of a city or town. They are often chosen by the people who live there. Their main job is to make sure the town's services work well. Mayors also represent their town at different events. They help guide the town's future and make sure everyone's voice is heard.

How Montclair's Government Works

Over the years, Montclair has changed how its government is set up. For a long time, it used a "commission form of government." In this system, a small group of elected officials, called commissioners, ran the town. One of them would be chosen as mayor.

Later, Montclair switched to a "Township Council/Township Manager model." In this system, the town has a council of elected members. This council makes the big decisions. They also hire a "township manager" to handle the day-to-day running of the town. The mayor in this system is usually elected directly by the people or chosen by the council.

Meet Montclair's Mayors

Many dedicated people have served as mayor of Montclair. Here are some of the leaders who have helped shape the town's history:

• David Doremus Duncan, from 1904 to 1907.
• Henry V. Crawford, around 1907.
• Ernest C. Hinck, around 1911.
• Louis F. Dodd, around 1914.
• Howard F. McConnell, who served from 1920 to 1924.
• Bayard H. Faulkner, around 1950.
• Harold S. Osborne, from 1961 to 1964.
• Harold Hayes, around 1966.
• Matthew G. Carter, who served from 1968 to 1972. He made history as Montclair's first black mayor.
• Peter Bonastia, from 1972 to 1976.
• Grant Gille, from 1976 to 1980. Grant Gille was the last mayor to serve under the old commission form of government. After his term, Montclair changed to the Township Council/Township Manager system.
• Mary V. Mochary, from 1980 to 1984.
• James Ramsey, from 1984 to 1986.
• Laurence H. Olive, from 1986 to 1987.
• Robert D. Jackson, from 1987 to 1988.
• Clifford Lindholm II, from 1988 to 1992. He was the first mayor under the new Council-Manager system to be elected directly by the people. Before him, the council chose the mayor.
• James Bishop, from 1992 to 1996.
• William Farlie, from 1996 to 2000.
• Robert J. Russo, from 2000 to 2004.
• Ed Remsen, from 2004 to 2008.
• Jerry Fried, from 2008 to 2012.
• Robert D. Jackson, from 2012 to 2020. He is the only mayor under the Council-Manager system to be elected by both the council and the people. He is also the only mayor in this system to serve two full four-year terms. Plus, he's the only one to serve terms that were not back-to-back.
• Sean M. Spiller, from 2020 to 2024.
• Renée E. Baskerville, who began her term on July 1, 2024, and is currently serving.