Three candidates are seeking two seats on the Bordentown Township Committee in the Nov. 3 general election.
Democratic incumbents Aneka Miller and William Grayson are facing Republican challenger Gene Hill for the two three-year terms. The Bordentown Current reached out to all three candidates. Their biographies and responses are below. Miller could not be reached by press time.
Grayson has been actively involved in Bordentown Township government for years, serving on the Environmental Commission from 2018 to 2022, on the Planning Board since 2018 and on the Township Committee since January 2023.
“I work for TD Bank as a technology design lead. I have been with the bank for 22 years. I believe in unflinching honesty, fairness, and listening to all sides of every issue,” he said. “I am willing to advocate passionately for the values and principles that matter most to our community. I am not afraid to make tough, informed decisions.”
Hill is a Bordentown Township resident, husband and father with more than eight years of experience working in municipal government.
He serves as president of AFSCME Local 2475 and as the municipal representative on the New Jersey PERS Board of Trustees.
Hill said he is running for Township Committee to bring working-class experience, accountability, responsible budgeting and practical municipal knowledge to local government. He believes residents deserve a representative who listens, understands how municipal services work day to day and focuses on economic development, strong public services and results for taxpayers.
Miller serves as mayor of Bordentown Township for 2026. She is the first Black mayor in the township. She was first elected to the Township Committee in 2021.
Her liaison assignments include the Bordentown Sewerage Authority, Department of Finance, Planning Board and county open space committee. Before joining the Township Committee, Miller was a member of the Bordentown Regional School District Board of Education.
Why are you running?
Grayson: I am running because I believe in representative democracy, and I believe that democracy works best when we all get involved. I am running to represent ordinary citizens, not parties, organizations or special interests.
My parents encouraged us from an early age to volunteer and give back to the community.
Leadership that is “governing for the greater good of the community” is one of the ways that I can do that. I have been kind of a government geek since childhood, so I actually like the public service! I love living in Bordentown and engaging with the community at local events, like the music nights at the park, which is one of the things I’m proud to have brought to the town.
With all that we have accomplished so far since I have been on the Township Committee, I believe that the best for this township is yet to come.
Hill: I am running because working-class families deserve a real voice at the table. For the past three years, I have represented my union brothers and sisters, and I now represent municipal pension members statewide on the PERS Board of Trustees. I want to bring that same approach to every resident and taxpayer in Bordentown Township: listen first, ask tough questions, and make decisions based on what best serves the public.
I know what it is like to work a full-time job, raise a family, pay a mortgage and watch every household expense. Local government decisions affect all of those things.
I am not running for a title. I am running because I believe public service should be exactly that, service. Residents deserve someone who is accessible, accountable and willing to do the work to make Bordentown stronger for families, seniors, employees and businesses alike.
What separates you from the other candidates in the race for Township Committee?
Grayson: First, I am an excellent listener. I believe that listening is an invaluable and necessary skill for a government official. The purpose of government is to meet the needs of the citizens. Any government official must be willing and able to listen and put themselves in their constituents’ shoes.
Second, practical experience. Throughout all my years on the Environmental Commission, Planning Board and Township Committee, I have steeped myself in the issues of this township. I have established key relationships among our departments. With me, there is no learning curve. I will hit the ground running.
Third, I am adamantly opposed to bringing data centers to Bordentown Township. They are currently not allowed by ordinance, and I will oppose any effort to change that. The leader of my opponent’s political party is a champion of building data centers anywhere. How can we be certain that my opponent can or will be an “independent voice” from his own party’s leader on data centers in Bordentown? I don’t think we can.
Hill: What separates me is that I have spent more than eight years working in municipal government with Hamilton Township’s Department of Public Works. I understand local government from the ground level, not just from a meeting agenda. I have seen how decisions made at the top affect employees, services and residents every day.
My union background also matters. As president of AFSCME Local 2475, I have been elected by my coworkers to represent them, listen to competing concerns, solve problems, negotiate and be accountable for the decisions I make. I also serve as the municipal representative on the New Jersey PERS Board of Trustees.
That experience translates directly to Township Committee. You are elected by people to represent people. I would bring practical municipal experience, a working-class perspective and a willingness to listen before making decisions. Government works best when representatives remain connected to the people they serve.
What do you see as the top issue facing Bordentown Township and why?
Grayson: The township will face multiple challenges in the next few years.
Costs: We all see the price of fuel rising steadily. We need it for everything from police cars to public works vehicles. All signs point to these fuel costs remaining high for the foreseeable future. This significant rising cost, among others, will present challenges in the coming years for budgeting.
Master planning: The way that folks do business in the 21st century continues to evolve. The population of the township is also growing. As this great township continues to grow and evolve, we will need to review and update the township master plan to guide the future direction of the township. The township administration has been GREAT at starting to get the word out about this. We will be sending out a master planning survey soon. Township residents should be ready to contribute their thoughts, desires and concerns. This is vital; I want to hear your ideas!
Hill: One of the biggest issues facing Bordentown Township is economic development, particularly making better use of vacant and underused commercial property.
The ShopRite area along Route 206 is a clear example. Bordentown Township’s 2022 Economic Development Plan identified the ShopRite property as an opportunity for redevelopment, noting visibility challenges from Route 206 and significant vacant space at the time.
Every empty commercial space represents a missed opportunity. Bringing appropriate businesses into existing commercial areas can broaden our ratable base, create jobs, provide more services and shopping options for residents and strengthen surrounding businesses.
Bordentown has an excellent location near major highways and a strong community. We should be more aggressive about turning those advantages into quality economic development.
My goal would not be development for development’s sake. It would be smart growth that puts existing properties back to productive use, attracts employers and businesses residents actually want, strengthens our tax base and protects the character of our community.
How would you seek to solve that issue?
Grayson: As a candidate for Township Committee, my role is to listen to residents, understand how rising costs impact families and local businesses, and help make responsible decisions. My goal is to protect essential services while respecting taxpayers’ ability to pay.
I have a record of supporting careful budgeting, regular review of contracts and programs, and efforts to identify savings without sacrificing public safety, education, infrastructure or quality of life.
To reduce unnecessary expenses, the town should pursue grants, shared services and energy efficiency. Also, residents deserve transparency about spending choices and clear explanations of difficult trade-offs.
I am committed to working collaboratively and making informed decisions toward these goals. My goal is to be a conscientious steward of public funds, advocate for efficient and effective services and a thoughtful master plan, and ensure that every decision reflects the community’s needs, values and long-term well-being.
Hill: I would start by making economic development an active priority instead of simply waiting for businesses to find Bordentown. The township should maintain an inventory of vacant and underused commercial properties, meet directly with property owners and actively market those locations to businesses and developers that fit our community.
We should also identify what is holding specific properties back. That means reviewing zoning, visibility, access, site design and the approval process. In the ShopRite area, for example, the township’s own planning documents have identified visibility as a challenge. I would work with property owners, township professionals and state agencies where necessary to address those obstacles.
I would also pursue available county and state economic development programs and consider redevelopment tools or incentives when they provide a measurable benefit to taxpayers.
The goal is simple: identify the obstacles, recruit the right investment, provide a clear and predictable approval process, and turn underused properties into productive ratables, jobs and services for Bordentown residents.
