Jason Cilento

Mayor Jason F. Cilento was born, raised, and educated in Dunellen, New Jersey. He received his B.A. in Political Science from Kean University and his M.A. in Public Administration from Rutgers University. First elected to Dunellen Borough Council at the age of 20, he served in that position for nine years, was elected as Council President in 2019, and was sworn in as Mayor on January 1, 2020. Cilento led Dunellen through the COVID-19 pandemic and the recovery from Hurricane Ida. His work focuses on infrastructure, redevelopment, and environmental initiatives. Cilento has attracted twelve new development projects and facilitated over $170 million in investments for the downtown area. He has worked closely with New Jersey Transit to advocate for improvements to the Dunellen Train Station and led efforts to improve Dunellen’s aging infrastructure by investing in sewer improvements, utilities, parks, and roads. Cilento has worked to secure over $8 million in grants, including technical grants, to fund infrastructure, pedestrian safety, and beautification projects in Dunellen. He has worked with the Raritan Valley Line Mayor’s Alliance to fight for direct service to New York City on the Raritan Valley Line and Gateway Tunnel funding. Cilento has spearheaded three planning initiatives, including the Master Plan Reexamination (including one of NJ’s first Climate Resiliency Plans), the Active Transportation Study by NJ Transit’s Transit Friendly Planning Program, and the Complete & Green Streets for All policy by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. Prioritizing the environment, Cilento has worked to enact ordinances addressing waterway pollution and the overuse of public garbage receptacles from multi-use properties to prevent debris from harming stormwater systems. His work with the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership led to New Jersey’s first pilot program of the Bandalong Bandit Litter Trap in the Green Brook, which intercepts debris and litter before it can reach the Raritan River. He serves as the President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors, which is the oldest and largest mayors’ organization in the country, and serves on the Legislative Committee for the New Jersey League of Municipalities. He sits as the only NJ Republican mayor member of Climate Mayors and leads with other mayors on the Mayors Alliance for a Clean Green Brook Waterway initiative. Cilento has focused on increasing community engagement through better communication, accessibility, and inclusivity for residents and business owners.