The swearing in of Eman El-Badawi and Robert Christopher kicked off the new year for the township committee when they convened for their annual reorganization meeting.
El Badawi, who served as Cranbury’s first Muslim, Indian, and Egyptian mayor in 2024 begins her second term and Christopher begins his first term. The terms are for three years.
Debbie Rubin, Cranbury’s municipal clerk, administered the oaths of office for El-Badawi and Christopher at the meeting.
Committeeman Matt Scott nominated Committeewoman Lisa Knierim for the mayoral position. No other nominations were made.
Rubin swore in Knierim as mayor.
“I would like to thank my fellow committee members for the nomination and confirmation as mayor of Cranbury Township,” Knierim began. “For those who do not know the five of us are elected during the general election by the residents of our community, we then vote amongst the five of us on the mayoral position and I’m honored to fulfill that role for the calendar year of 2025.
“But I want to emphasize my vote is no different from my fellow committee members. I’m on a team of five and our priority and objective is to serve the residents of Cranbury who voted us into office.”
Knierim presented El-Badawi with a plaque from the township for her service as mayor.
“I would also like to thank mayor Eman El-Badawi for her leadership and passion as mayor in 2024,” Knierim said. “Eman’s commitment to Cranbury goes beyond the borders of our beloved town.”
For deputy mayor, Christopher nominated El-Badawi to serve in the position for the year. There were no other nominations.
El-Badawi was re-elected to the position, which she first served in for 2023, and succeeds Knierim, who held the position in 2024.
The five-member township committee consists of Knierim, El-Badawi, Christopher, Scott and Committeewoman Barbara Rogers.
