Ewing Township voters will choose between Republican Jessica J. Marasco and Democratic incumbent Bert H. Steinmann for mayor in the Nov. 3 general election.
The winner will serve a four-year term. Steinmann’s current term expires Dec. 31. Ewing’s mayor serves as the township’s chief executive and oversees the operation of municipal government.
The Ewing Observer posed a series of four questions to the candidates. Their biographies and answers appear below.
Jessica J. Marasco is a retired police detective and longtime New Jersey resident. The youngest of seven children, she began her working career in bakeries and later worked for the state Motor Vehicle Commission before entering law enforcement.
Marasco became a police officer and later worked as a detective in a Domestic Violence Unit. She has described her career as one centered on public service and working with people from a variety of backgrounds.
Bert H. Steinmann has served as mayor of Ewing Township since 2010, following 10 years on the Township Council. An Ewing resident since 1959, he attended Ewing schools and earned an associate degree in electrical engineering from Trenton Technical Institute.
Before retiring in 2007, Steinmann spent 35 years with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, serving as business administrator for its Pension and Health Care Fund.
As mayor, he has promoted growth, commercial investment and partnerships with Mercer County, the state of New Jersey, The College of New Jersey, Ewing Public Schools and businesses. His administration has advanced redevelopment of the former General Motors plant and Naval Air Warfare Center.
Steinmann devoted 30 years to the West End Soccer Association, founding its instructional program for children.
1. What qualifications and experience would you bring to the office you are seeking, and how would they help you serve the community?
Marasco: My background in criminal investigations has taught me to gather pertinent information before making decisions. As a retired detective, I served to protect life, property and civil liberties.
In 2026, we live in a fast-paced digital world, where the use of digital platforms and social media will keep the community connected in conjunction with council meetings. We deserve transparent leadership and effective governance.
Steinmann: I know Ewing, and I know how local government works. Over the years, I have learned that major projects rarely move in a straight line. They take patience and good working relationships with people at every level of government.
That has been especially important in redeveloping the former GM property and moving the former Naval Air Warfare Center project forward after decades of delay. Neither happened overnight, and neither happened because of one person. My role was to keep people at the table and keep the work moving.
I also understand that Ewing is changing. I believe that is a strength. My experience helps me balance progress with the everyday needs of residents and make sure Ewing continues moving in the right direction.
2. What are the most important issues facing your municipality, and what specific actions would you pursue in this office to address them?
Marasco: The most important issues facing our municipality are responsible spending, public safety and smart economic growth.
I oppose overdevelopment that adds apartments without adequately considering the effects on taxpayers, infrastructure and municipal services. I believe the township should review its PILOT agreements and pursue grants and other revenue sources while encouraging housing opportunities, including starter homes.
I also believe there should be greater transparency in development decisions and support efforts to regionalize Trenton Water Works.
Steinmann: The biggest challenge is paying for the services residents expect when so much property is outside our tax base. Nearly 30% of Ewing’s land is government-owned. We have 691 tax-exempt properties with nearly $2 billion in assessed value. Ewing still provides roads and emergency services that support many of those properties.
We need to keep expanding the commercial tax base. Ewing Town Center has shown what redevelopment can do. The former Naval Air Warfare Center is another major opportunity, and after years of talking about it, the old buildings have finally come down.
We also need to keep investing in our neighborhoods and public facilities. Ewing is not the town it was 50 or 100 years ago. It is more developed and more diverse. We should not be afraid of that. We should manage change carefully and make sure residents benefit from it.
3. How would you limit municipal property tax increases as costs rise, and what spending changes or cost-saving measures would you support while maintaining essential services?
Marasco: Limiting spending requires discipline, an examination of the budget and a willingness to cut waste.
I support placing limits on municipal spending while making exceptions when necessary to protect public safety. The township should scrutinize fees and spending, address safety concerns such as traffic-circle infrastructure and aggressively pursue state and federal grant funding.
Steinmann: There is no single answer to rising property taxes. We have to question spending and bring in revenue from sources other than homeowners.
Health-benefit costs were a major problem in the 2026 budget. More than 40 employees moved to lower-cost plans, saving about $600,000. Those savings helped us absorb part of the increase without cutting the essential services residents rely on.
Ewing also moved early to permit regulated recreational cannabis businesses. That is expected to bring in more than $680,000 this year. Revenue from Ewing Town Center also helps.
I will continue reviewing vacancies before filling them and seeking grants whenever possible. Shared services make sense in some areas. Technology can also reduce costs and help us use township employees and equipment more efficiently. The goal is to control costs without asking residents to accept poorer service.
4. How would you involve residents in municipal decisions and keep them informed about spending, major projects and progress on your priorities?
Marasco: Creating digital communication platforms would encourage participation and help effect real change.
Residents should receive clear information about spending, major projects, timelines and unexpected expenses and should have accessible ways to provide input to township officials.
Steinmann: Keeping residents informed has been a priority because people should not have to search for basic information about their town. We now communicate through the township website, Ewing Insights, social media, video and digital signs. We also put more registrations, payments and service requests online so residents do not always have to come to Town Hall.
Ewing Buddy gives residents a simple way to report a problem and follow what happens next. Inside the township, GPS and digital fleet management help us know where equipment is and use it more efficiently.
We can still do more. I want residents to receive regular updates on major projects, especially when timelines change. Budget information should be understandable, not written only for accountants. Public meetings remain important, and we will continue holding community meetings on projects that directly affect neighborhoods. Communication cannot begin and end in the meeting room. It has to reach people where they are and give them a way to respond.
