About Mayor Richard M. Onderko

Three-term incumbent Mayor

Mayor Onderko’s leadership has taken Manville in a completely new direction during his term in office. By focusing on our town’s finances, paying down prior debts, and stabilizing municipal taxes under the 2% cap, Mayor Onderko has provided the necessary leadership to help the Borough through a national pandemic and recover from Hurricane Ida in2021—the worst flood in our town’s history.

The flood recovery efforts are still ongoing and require a strong leader who is passionate about helping his fellow residents return home, elevate their homes, or take a Blue Acres buyout. Making Manville more storm-resilient and keeping Manville affordable and safe is worth fighting for.  Mayor Onderko is committed to ensuring Manville gets its fair share of federal and state aid in the months and years ahead.

Mayor Onderko has also followed through on his promise of transparency: the revitalized Manville’s News provides regular Mayoral updates, informational articles from community leaders, and recreational calendars. The “My Manville” phone app is another excellent addition to our communication platforms. He is also one of the most accessible Mayor’s Manville has ever had.

But beyond the nuts and bolts of municipal logistics, Mayor Onderko has clearly put the community first with no special interests. He has brought the spotlight to our veterans, championing Wreaths Across America to visit Manville in 2017 and honoring our local “Hometown Heroes” with personalized banners on Main Street. We are now a proud designated Purple Heart community. He has also worked with our Recreation Department to bring our annual National Night Out celebrations with our police force, and outstanding Community Day events allow Manville to come together for fun and festivity every year. For Mayor Onderko, it is clearly about fighting for his hometown so we thrive as a vibrant, safe, and affordable community while promoting patriotism in our small town.

Credentials

  • Rider University – Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration

  • Three-term Incumbent Mayor

  • 33 years professional career in IT and Finance - retired. Devoted to the town full-time as Mayor

  • American Legion Boys State graduate

  • NJAFM 2022 Outstanding Floodplain Management Award for the adoption of comprehensive municipal flood ordinances to protect its residents

  • American Patriot Award Recipient 2023 – VFW Post 2290

  • MHS Scholarships – Since 2011, he has given back his salary to the community through scholarships. 48 MHS Seniors have received the Herman Brunn Academic Competition Award since he has been Mayor