It’s a new era in Bordentown City, as voters will this year choose three members of the Board of City Commissioners in November instead of May, as they have done in the past.
Voters passed a referendum last November supporting that the election be moved, and that change was implemented by the board this year. Five candidates are running for seats on the three-member board, with all three seats up for a four-year term on Election Day, Nov. 4.
Of the two current members of the board, only Mayor Jennifer Sciortino is running for a new term. Deputy Mayor Joe Myers has opted against running again. The third seat is currently vacant.
In Bordentown Township, only one seat is up for grabs on the township committee, and there is just one candidate for that seat: Democrat Eugene M. Fuzy, who is currently serving as deputy mayor.
The Bordentown Current surveyed the candidates running for contested seats. Their bios and responses to our questions are below.
Five candidates (one incumbent) running for three seats.
Grace Archer, 67, has lived in Bordentown City for 47 years. The retired municipal clerk for the City of Bordentown has been married for 48 years to husband Steven; they have two sons, Jason and Jeremy, who are sergeants with the Bordentown City Police. Archer has two granddaughters, Kaydence (13) and Zoey (3).
Ed Foley, 34, has lived in Bordentown City his whole life, with local family history going back to the late 19th century. His parents, sisters and great uncle still live in the area.
A supervisor with the Department of the Treasury, he lives on Elizabeth Street with his two dogs, Skelly and Ozzy.
Foley ran unsuccessfully for City Commission in the 2017 and 2021 general elections, and unsuccessfully for an unexpired term on the City Commission in the special election in 2024.
Stephanie Lagos, 39, has lived in Bordentown City for 8 years. She serves as deputy chief of staff to Gov. Phil Murphy and chief of staff for New Jersey First Lady Tammy Snyder Murphy.
She is married to husband Justin, and has daughters Sofia (3), Isabella (1) and dog Mosie (6). This is her first time running for elected office.
Sean Reiter, 47, has lived in Bordentown City for two years. Reiter is married to Brittany, and has two children, Owen (5) and Emily (3).
Jennifer Sciortino, 50, has lived in Bordentown City for 17 years. She is director of public affairs and outreach for the state Department of the Treasury. She and spouse Molly Dwyer were married last fall in Bordentown City.
“We chose to showcase everything we love about Bordentown when we got married last fall: pictures at Point Breeze, ceremony at Hilltop Park, followed by a parade down Second Street to the reception at Old City Hall, with food and other accommodations provided by many Bordentown businesses,” she says.
She was first elected as a Bordentown City Commissioner in 2021, in her first time running.
CN: Tell us about the moment that you decided to run, or run again, for the board of commissioners.
Grace Archer: My decision to seek office came from asking myself how I could be of further service to our city and residents in an impactful way. It is important to the city’s growth and progress to support our downtown business district, but we must also remain mindful of the importance of our fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers and residents.
Ed Foley: I decided to run again after the May 2025 commissioner’s meeting where it was announced that Commissioner Heather Cheesman would not be replaced, despite six qualified candidates considered and a compromise rejected.
I felt this was not good for our community, especially for our first responders. We need leaders who can work through disagreements for the common good. I am willing and able to work together with whomever gets elected to bring home results for everyone.
Stephanie Lagos: I decided to run after friends and neighbors encouraged me to take the leap. After almost a decade of calling Bordentown City home, serving on the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Burlington County Library Commission, and choosing to raise my family here, I realized this was the right moment to give back in a bigger way. I want to use my government and management experience to make sure our local government listens, responds and keeps our city the special place we all love.
Sean Reiter: As a parent with two young children who enjoy stroller rides, the frustration I felt every time we had to navigate an uneven sidewalk or go into the street to avoid overgrown yards and unkempt bushes that blocked sidewalks pushed me to do something to bring positive change to how our city runs. Those issues, along with concern over the financial stability of the city, awakened a calling in me to run for commissioner.
Jennifer Sciortino: Ultimately, I decided we’re just getting started.There are so many irons in the fire right now. I spent the last four years building relationships with residents, volunteers, and our business community and I want to continue advocating for them.
Everything I’ve learned over the last four years will help me be more effective in the next four.
CN: What makes Bordentown City a great place to live?
Archer: The city has seen many changes over the years, and our downtown district is thriving where others struggle. Bordentown City, with its historical places of interest, shops, restaurants, parks, trails and annual events, and the walkability of the city is what attracts most visitors and gives our residents that small town feel where you know your neighbors, everyone watches out for the children and it’s just a comfortable, safe environment for raising a family. Once you visit Bordentown City, you fall in love with the charm and want to make it your home too.
Foley: There are a few things that make this small town with a big heart a great place to live. Foremost are its residents, who time and again demonstrate a sense of community in good times and bad. That is further exemplified by the countless volunteers who serve on city boards, committees, firehouses, and charitable organizations. Without our volunteers, this city would look very different.
Additionally, I feel our rich history, our walkable streetscapes, a thriving downtown, and a growing park system all draw people to move here and that makes Bordentown a great place to live.
Lagos: Bordentown City is special because neighbors truly care for one another. That sense of connection shows up in everyday life: mornings at the coffee shop where familiar faces greet you by name, Sundays at the farmers market, afternoons in the park with our daughters and their friends, and evening walks down tree-lined streets with our dog, Mosie. Our rich history, community events, and small businesses give the city a one-of-a-kind charm.
Just as important, volunteers give their time and energy to make Bordentown welcoming and vibrant — a community we’re proud to call home.
Reiter: When we decided to move, the list of places we wanted to end up was very short: Bordentown City was the only place we wanted to move. We love the walkability, the sense of community, and how friendly everyone is. We were excited that our kids would be able to walk to school, which unfortunately will have to wait two years now. The kids love exploring the city and meeting friends at the many playgrounds. This is an amazing place to raise a family, and almost anything we need is within walking distance.
Sciortino: I could go on forever about how special Bordentown is — incredible history, vibrant downtown, walkability, and an abundance of open space — but what truly makes it stand out is our unique sense of community. Bordentown is a place where people from all walks of life can run into each other on the street or have a meaningful conversation on a bar stool.
I’ve never had more cross-generational relationships in my life. It’s more important than ever to have a strong social fabric of friends and neighbors to lean on and I’m truly grateful for the people who call Bordentown home.
CN: Name two issues of vital importance in the city right now and explain how, as a commissioner, you will address these issues.
Archer: Fiscal responsibility is a priority that affects residents and taxpayers. Bordentown City is built out, and without additional tax ratables and the loss of its largest commercial taxpayer, the financial burden of supporting the needs of the city has fallen to the taxpayers. It is important that we find avenues to generate revenues without burdening the taxpayer further.
Public safety is an extremely vital issue that is important to our residents. The equipment of our volunteer fire companies is aging beyond usefulness and what does not meet today’s standards and requirements affects the fire rating, which then raises homeowners’ insurance premiums.
Our police department’s equipment is outdated both in age and technology; our vehicles have outlived their usefulness and need constant repair. The goal is to establish a long-term plan to upgrade/replace these valuable tools to enable us to provide for the safety and wellbeing of our residents and visitors.
Foley: The two issues of importance that stand out to me are improving public safety and advocating for more proactive planning. In November 2024, the city commission rightfully created a public safety task force to address the critical needs of our police, fire and EMS. As commissioner, I would use my experience as a first responder to acquire the resources our police, firefighters and EMTs need as well as ensure that this task force hits the ground running to bring recommendations for the full board to consider.
Additionally, as your commissioner, I would work with the full board to develop a more proactive approach to how the city operates, as opposed to always reacting after the fact. A more proactive approach would in theory spill over into improving other issues like crisis/incident response, administrative practices and communication, infrastructure improvements, transparency/oversight, constructive relations with the BOE and budgetary planning.
Lagos: Improving walkability and supporting small businesses are top priorities. Everyone should feel safe and welcome as they move around town, so I will push for funding, grants, and partnerships to repair and connect sidewalks. Our small businesses — the shops, restaurants, and entrepreneurs that make up our downtown — are the heartbeat of Bordentown City. With my background in management and economic development, I’ll work to cut red tape, expand partnerships and ensure businesses can thrive. These priorities reflect what makes Bordentown unique: a safe, welcoming, and walkable city where local businesses and neighbors alike help our community flourish.
Reiter: I want to tackle quality of life issues, specifically related to the maintenance of public areas and sidewalks, both city and private. Citizens should not have to do Public Works’ job, and we owe it to each other as neighbors to maintain our properties and keep everyone safe. Keeping sidewalks and rights of way in good condition helps reduce liability.
Secondly, I want to ensure that we run a financially responsible government, not just now, but for years to come, so those following behind us are not saddled in debt and facing tax increases. There are grant opportunities that we should take advantage of and ensure they are used, and not allowed to expire. We also need to make sure that the police department and fire departments have proper funding and equipment. Everyone’s lives and property depend on the two departments being able to efficiently and effectively do their jobs.
Sciortino: Open space development is a huge priority as evidenced by the overwhelming number of voters who approved the ballot measure last year. I would like to see us maximize this new revenue source by using it as a local match to pursue larger grants that will help us preserve and enhance our parks and historic places.
Right now we’re collecting public input on what residents would like to see prioritized. This will be incorporated into a formal plan that will serve as a blueprint to guide our decisions in the years ahead.
Smart redevelopment is another big issue on the horizon. Once productive properties like Ocean Spray, former City Hall (Farnsworth Avenue), and Clare Estate are all under review right now by the planning board to be included in a new redevelopment plan. The goal is to help identify the best possible uses for these properties and equip the city with the right tools to attract the kind of development that meets our needs, preserves our historic charm, and generates new tax ratables to help ease the burden on residents.
CN: (For the incumbent) What are your top accomplishments during your time in office?
Sciortino: I ran on the issues of communication, parking and walkability because they repeatedly come up in conversation with residents. I’ve made them a priority, working with partners to deliver. I led the effort to improve communication by launching the city’s official Facebook channel along with a new website and app, which provide daily updates that were nonexistent four years ago.
Leveraging my state government experience, I worked to secure over $1 million in state grant funding to construct a pedestrian/bike path, now in the design phase, to connect two key city quadrants — downtown/train station to Point Breeze/Park Street apartments.
When I first took office, I was told not to bother with the “unsolvable” parking problem. Instead, I secured an agreement with NJTransit to allow free parking at the RiverLine, sought community input, personally designed new signs directing visitors/employees to the train station lot, and expanded shuttle service.
CN: (For challengers) What makes you the most qualified candidate running for the board of commissioners?
Archer: My experience as the former municipal clerk and employee of almost 33 years provides me with an incredible amount of knowledge of the city. Familiarity with county and state representatives is a plus in working toward making Bordentown City an even greater place to live. Being familiar with city operations provides an edge to develop strategies to enable employees to perform their duties safely, efficiently and thoroughly. There is an established rapport with many of the employees, which makes for a smooth transition.
My knowledge of procedures, regulations and guidelines of city, county and state allows me the opportunity to work efficiently at a “hit the ground running” pace. I took great pride in talking with residents to help resolve problems and provide assistance. I look forward once again to always being available to the residents to listen and help any way that I am able.
Lagos: I bring over a decade of management and public service experience. From serving in the Peace Corps in Africa to working in the State Assembly, and now serving in senior leadership roles in the executive branch of state government, I’ve led teams, managed budgets, and delivered results. Here in Bordentown, I’ve served on the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Burlington County Library Commission, working alongside neighbors to strengthen our community.
What sets me apart is the combination of professional management experience and a genuine commitment to this city. After eight years here, I’ve seen firsthand how much pride residents take in giving back and supporting one another. I’ve made the choice to raise my family here, and that deepens my investment in Bordentown’s future. I believe I can use my skills to help keep our city the special place we all enjoy calling home.
Foley: Bordentown is my home, it’s the city and the people that I care about most. Seeing this community succeed is what drives me to serve. Between my 12+ years of professional experience working in state government, and my time on city boards and committees (the planning board, economic development, and Veterans Memorial) as well as a decade in the fire department, I know I possess the skills and qualifications to serve on the City Commission.
My experiences have instilled in me a collaborative mindset to accomplish goals, helped hone my attention to detail, and strengthened my ability to listen to the concerns of others. With residents’ support and trust, I will use my experience and these skills as next your commissioner to ensure our little city with a lot of charm continues to succeed into the future.
Reiter: I have 15 years of law enforcement experience, ending as a sergeant. I currently lead a team in a risk management, managing claims in automotive retail and other business departments globally. Reducing exposure and liability is something I do well.
I may not have lived here long, but I have a vested interest in improving the functions of our government and making this an even greater place to live. It didn’t take me long to recognize that there is room for improvement within some of the city departments, and I want to work with our dedicated employees to make sure everything runs efficiently, which also saves money.
I am a person who can get things done, and I don’t tolerate the phrase, “That’s just how we do things.” If there is a way to improve the function of the government, I intend to do it.
