Inganamort Departs Chester Township, Resigning As Mayor

CHESTER, NJ — Mike Inganamort says his election to the New Jersey State Assembly has resulted in one bittersweet outcome: his resignation as mayor of Chester Township on Tuesday night.

Inganamort, who announced his candidacy with Sussex County Commissioner Dawn Fantasia on Jan. 18, citing the need for "fresh, new conservative leaders in NJ-24," won the Assembly seat during the November election.

"It has been an incredible honor to serve as Chester Township’s mayor and to have served the residents of Chester Township as mayor and council member over the past six years," Inganamort said.

He will officially depart on Jan. 8 and take office in Trenton on Jan. 9.

"While I look forward to serving the people of Chester Township and all of New Jersey’s 24th District in the Legislature and will fight tooth and nail to ensure our needs are met in state government, I will miss terribly serving as mayor," Inganamort said on Tuesday.

This election season, there were two open State Assembly seats in the 24th legislative district, as incumbents Parker Space (R-Wantage) and Hal Wirths (R-Wantage) previously announced their intention to not seek re-election.

Inganamort, who was elected mayor of Chester Township last November, told Patch previously that his decision to run for State Assembly was not premeditated; he made the decision one week before announcing his candidacy.

• Read More: Chester Mayor Confirms Run For Open 24th District Assembly Seat

While he only served as Mayor of Chester Township for one year, Inganamort said that he is proud of what he and his fellow council members were able to accomplish.

On Tuesday, he named some of the following accomplishments:

• Eliminated burdensome restrictions on businesses operating within the Township, a six-year effort of the Planning Board
• Revised the Township's onerous drywell ordinance to provide needed relief to homeowners and options for farmers—a challenge that bedeviled us for years but was solved through productive conversation.
• Extended the expiration date of most design waivers and variances granted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
• Lifted the stop work order on the Hall Road development
• Resurfaced 11.5 miles of road throughout Chester Township
• Earned a $208,504 grant to pave half of State Park Road in 2024.
• Officially opened the new Black River Fields and dedicated Bill Foelsch Field.
• Managed significant turnover in our police department under the solid leadership of Chief Ryan McNamee.
• Expanded traffic control outside Dickerson and Bragg Schools in the mornings and afternoons
• Decreased discretionary spending by more than $250,000, despite higher increases in state-mandated and contractual spending.
• Reorganized the police department to have one officer stationed at each of Chester’s three schools.
• Opened two new playgrounds, with funding secured by our prior council.
• Finalized and launched a responsible process for meeting our affordable housing obligation in good faith, which may very well be achieved in 2024.

"We got a lot done in 2023. And building on that foundation, I believe Chester Township is more than ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead in 2024. It may very well be our town’s best year yet – because we have residents who care and volunteers who serve," Inganamort said. "And in me, you’ll have a friend and an advocate in Trenton. So thank you for the extraordinary honor to have served alongside you. I wish I could stay a little longer. But I also know that Chester Township is in great hands."