Fanwood Mayor Appointed As Somerset County Administrator

FANWOOD, NJ — Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr was unanimously appointed by the Somerset County Freeholder Board to the position of Deputy Administrator at the regular meeting on Tuesday.

Mahr will work with retiring Somerset County Administrator Michael Amorosa from Sept. 28 through the end of the year, and then assume the role of Administrator on Jan. 1, 2021, for a term ending on Dec. 31, 2025.

"Colleen Mahr is an amazing, bipartisan choice to lead Somerset County as its Administrator during these difficult times. Whether rebuilding downtowns, growing businesses, or spearheading the fight for Raritan Valley One Seat commuter service to Manhattan, Colleen's energy, intelligence, and commitment shine through," said Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson.

During her 16 years as Mayor, Mahr transformed Fanwood's downtown and received numerous Smart Growth and Public-Private Partnership Awards.

"The next year to 18 months will be challenging but full of opportunities as we navigate the impact of the COVID–19 crisis and determine how we move forward as a community. I am also excited to partner with an amazing County team and Mike Amorosa during this transition as we work to rebuild our local businesses and economy, maintain our history of fiscal responsibility, and deliver the high level of services our local leaders and the residents of Somerset county expect," said Mahr.

Mahr is currently the Director of Business Development for DMR Architects where she manages a diverse portfolio of public and private projects focused on economic development and redevelopment. She is also the Co-Founder of the Raritan Valley Line Mayors Alliance where she vigorously advocated for One Seat service to Manhattan on the Raritan Valley Line, and is the immediate past president of the New Jersey League of Municipalities.

In addition to the appointment of Colleen Mahr, the Somerset County Freeholders also unanimously appointed Matthew D. Loper as County Engineer of the County of Somerset with a contract extension through Dec. 31, 2025.

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