After 25 years as a public official, Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried is calling it a career.
Fried announced on Monday, March 30, in a written statement that he has decided not to run for reelection when his four-year term is up this November. His term officially ends on Dec. 31, 2025.
“I have long said the most difficult and rewarding thing anyone can do is put their name on an election ballot,” Fried said. “This November, for the first time in almost a quarter century, my name will not be on that ballot.” The full text of his announcement can be read on page 6.
Fried, 57, has served as mayor of Robbinsville Township since 2005, becoming the first to hold the office under the township’s current mayor-council form of government.
Sometime after his retirement at the end of the year, Fried is expected to move to Florida. He is currently in the process of building a home in the St. Pete.
A dedicated public servant, Fried’s tenure has been marked by a commitment to community, innovation in public service, and steady fiscal stewardship.
A graduate of Rowan University, Fried began his public service on the Washington Township Committee—now the Robbinsville Township Council—before being elected mayor.
He was re-elected in 2009, 2013, and 2017, and ran unopposed in his most recent campaign. His long-standing leadership has made him a central figure in the township’s transformation over the past two decades.
Outside of government, Fried is the CEO of Payday, a Robbinsville-based HR, payroll, and benefits company. He previously led TriCore Human Capital Management, a two-time recipient of the Inc. 500/5000 award recognizing America’s fastest-growing private companies.
Throughout his time in office, Fried has championed causes that reflect his deep care for Robbinsville residents. In 2015, he reimagined the State of the Township address as the annual Pay-it-Forward charitable event, raising more than $500,000 for individuals and organizations in need.
That effort has supported everything from accessible transportation for disabled children to critical home modifications for residents facing debilitating illnesses, and community-wide campaigns to aid families facing sudden tragedies.
His administration played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing more than 20,000 units of PPE, providing testing sites, and encouraging vaccinations. His swift response helped protect public health during a time of uncertainty.
During his time as mayor, Robbinsville preserved more than 1,200 acres of open space. He is hoping to keep municipal taxes flat again this year when he presents his 2025 budget on April 10, which would mark the 11th flat or reduced tax rate in the last 14 years.
Under his leadership, the township acquired the 149-unit Mercer Mobile Home Park in 2019. The deal became a major component of the township’s plans to provide state-mandated affordable housing and helped Robbinsville fulfill its obligation through 2025.
Fried is currently seeing to completion a plan to consolidate the township’s municipal offices, court, and police department into the former Investors/Roma Bank building. For more on the project, see the story starting on page 1.
Fried lives in Robbinsville with his wife, Kathryn. Their two children, Brett and Ashley, both attended Robbinsville schools.
Fried’s statement
The following is the full text of Fried’s announcement:
The opportunity to both serve and raise a family in what I consider the best, most kind-hearted town in New Jersey has been a privilege and the greatest honor of my life.
Come January 15, 2026, for the first time since being selected to fill an unexpired term in 2000 under the prior Township Committee form of government, I will not be your mayor.
I have long said the most difficult and rewarding thing anyone can do is put their name on an election ballot. This November, for the first time in almost a quarter century, my name will not be on that ballot. While endlessly proud of what we have accomplished together, the time has come to step aside and allow a new leader to chart his/her own course for Robbinsville’s future. Hopefully, the roads we have paved together throughout this diverse town so rich in history and possibilities will help guide your next mayor to even greater success.
I want to thank my wife, Kitt, and children Ashley and Brett, for their unconditional love, understanding and unwavering support throughout the years. Having our children grow up surrounded by friendship, activities, and educational opportunities in Robbinsville, and then watching them flourish as young adults, fills me with more pride than I could ever put into words.
Any success I have experienced these past 25 years could not have been accomplished without a staff which, year-in and year-out, I would put up against any in the country. To every Township Council member, department head, police officer, firefighter, non-profit organization, Robbinsville business, and every citizen who has volunteered their time to serve on our many boards, commissions, and committees, thank you for your service and for helping me navigate these waters in times of both frightening uncertainty and fragile calm.
The current Council, led by its incomparable president Mike Todd, is a government body you can trust and has nothing but your best interests at heart. They will continue to serve you well.
To my many mentors, friends and peers throughout the local mayoral and legislative community, your wisdom, advice, and guidance not only helped me govern, but it will undoubtedly shape my life outside the public eye.
Finally, to the residents of Robbinsville and Windsor. Thank you.
Thank you for your support. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for your generosity and for your enormous hearts.
Thank you for 25 unforgettable years as your leader.
May God bless you all.
