Bob Russo

Bob Russo has served as Montclair at-large councilor since 2012. He was elected to represent the First ward for two terms and then elected Mayor in 2000. He served on the Montclair Planning Board, Board of School Estimate and Library Board and was liaison to several advisory committees, including Senior Citizens and People With Disabilities.

Bob earned his M.A. in American Government at Rutgers University, beginning his career as a 4th grade teacher in Newark. He moved on to college level work as an adjunct professor, teaching Public Administration courses at Montclair State, Kean and Rutgers Universities. Now retired, Bob served in various government and business roles during a 40 year career, culminating in his final work as Director of Mediation/Intergovernmental Relations & Lemon Laws for the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.

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Bob also served as President of the Consumers League of New Jersey.
A Montclair resident with his wife Christine, for over 35 years, Bob’s community activities include memberships in numerous organizations: the Essex Running Club, Sierra Club, Montclair LWV, Montclair Branch NAACP and the Montclair Democratic Committee.

 

He has also been a strong supporter of Friends of the Howe House, Montclair Jazz Festival, MFEE, Friends of Edgemont and Anderson Parks, and the Bike-Bus. Bob has been a leader of CWA and AFTNJ unions, currently serving as Treasurer of the MSU Adjunct Faculty AFT Local 6025. Bob Russo is committed to dedicating all “PILOT” funds for schools; reducing all town/county road speed limits to 25/15 mph; creating affordable housing through smarter development and rent control; establishing a senior citizen center; restoring civility and
democracy by returning all council meeting agendas to traditional earlier 3 minute public comment periods.

Open, honest, responsive and transparent government, will continue to be the focus of Bob Russo’s service on the Montclair Council.