Chris Vergano Announces He Is Running For A 3rd Mayoral Term

WAYNE, N.J. — Chris Vergano announced Wednesday he is seeking a third term as Wayne mayor.

Vergano announced his intention to run for another four-year term at a Township Council meeting Wednesday.

Vergano is in his 10th year as mayor. He became mayor in 2008 when he was appointed to replace Scott Rumana, who was elected to the state Assembly. He was elected to his first full term in 2009 and to his second in 2013, soundly defeating in opponents both times.

Before becoming mayor, Vergano, a Republican, was a councilman for six years and a Board of Education trustee for nine.

Vergano thanked council members, also all Republicans, for signing his election petition and said he would continue to work with them to bring more commercial ratables to the township, something that has been a priority of Vergano's during his time in office.

RELATED: GAF to Relocate to Parsippany, Town to Lose 600 Jobs

Many longtime corporations and businesses, including Bayer, GAF, State Farm and the Hostess bakery closed or moved out of Wayne, taking hundreds of jobs with them. Empty storefronts and vacant lots littered the town's commercial real estate. But that has started to change.

The Wayne Towne Center has been revitalized with new retail businesses and restaurants. FedEx opened a 163,000-square-foot distribution facility in October.

RELATED: Wayne Hills Mall Redevelopment Plan Approved

The Planning Board approved a redevelopment plan for the 39-acre Wayne Hills Mall property last year. The plan includes knocking down the mall building and erecting multiple stand-alone retail spaces.

Vergano previously said that Dave & Buster's will bring its popular dining and entertainment business to the Willowbrook Mall.

Vergano also said there are a lot of new construction plans "on the horizon" that will appear before the Planning Board shortly."

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Photo: Mayor Chris Vergano — Patch file photo by Daniel Hubbard