J. Christian Bollwage

J. Christian Bollwage
Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 1, 1993
Preceded byThomas G. Dunn
Personal details
Born
James Christian Bollwage[1]

(1954-12-07) December 7, 1954 (age 69)
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationAdjunct Professor in the Public Administration Department at Kean University

James Christian (Chris) Bollwage is the mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey, the state's fourth-largest city.[2][3] A lifelong resident of Elizabeth, he was elected into his first term in 1992, and reelected in November 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.[2] He has been the president of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.

He is a 1972 graduate of St. Mary of the Assumption High School.[4] He graduated from Kean University with a bachelor's degree in 1981 and with a master's degree in 1989.[2][5] Kean University gave Bollwage an honorary degree in 2002.[5] Bollwage is an adjunct professor in the Public Administration Department at Kean University.[2]

Bollwage's vision of the future of Elizabeth included "Go-Green" initiatives, collegiate corridor concept, remodeling of Midtown train station, and expansion of economic development, recreation, housing and transportation. He also unveiled a foreclosure assistance program, a Healthy Elizabeth initiative and camera surveillance network.[6]

2020 Elizabeth mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Bollwage (incumbent) 26,495 98.53
Write-in 394 1.47
Total votes 26,889 100.00
Democratic hold
2016 Elizabeth mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Bollwage (incumbent) 20,732 99.68
Write-in 66 0.32
Total votes 20,798 100.00
Democratic hold
2012 Elizabeth mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Bollwage (incumbent) 20,415 99.62
Write-in 78 0.38
Total votes 20,493 100.00
Democratic hold
2008 Elizabeth mayoral election
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Chris Bollwage (incumbent) 18,929 80.21
Republican Albert Martin 4,663 19.76
Write-in 7 0.03
Total votes 23,599 100.00
Democratic hold
  1. ^ "In Trash Fight, Aiming Pebbles at Goliath". The New York Times. November 23, 1999. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Biography". City of Elizabeth. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  3. ^ "SERIES: CHANGING DOWNTOWNS: ELIZABETH". The Star-Ledger, NJ.com. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  4. ^ Staff. "Tour De Elizabeth" Archived March 22, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, Hilltopper Newsletter, Spring 2015, Volume 12, Issue 1. Accessed September 19, 2016. "Ashley Bolivard (’16), Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage (’72), Nicole Fernandes (’16) and Xavier Sanchez (’15)"
  5. ^ a b "Kean University showcases distinguished alumni; Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage one of the honorees". NJ.com. April 13, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  6. ^ "Our Mayor | Elizabeth, NJ". www.elizabethnj.org. Retrieved February 13, 2023.