Biographical Sketch of Wayne Smith, Mayor
Township of Irvington, New Jersey

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Promoting an aggressive agenda for the rebirth of the Township of Irvington, Wayne Smith was elected as the 20 th Mayor of the municipality in May 2002. His entire slate of council candidates—known as Team Irvington—was also elected, sealing the mandate for his leadership.

Mayor Smith’s tenure has been characterized by bold, innovative leadership that has yielded significant progress for the Township of Irvington. His most noted accomplishments are: initiating the formation of the Anti-Crime Partnership that includes the NJ State Police, local, county and federal agencies; securing the $4.4 million agreement to rebuild the Irvington Bus Terminal, which opened in April 2005; demolishing dozens of dilapidated, abandoned properties to pave the way for redevelopment; and drastically increasing code enforcement that has resulted in about $1.5 million in fines of neglectful property owners. His outstanding stewardship has not only delivered tangible results but high hopes for the future revitalization of Irvington.

In a nod to his undeniable popularity and the affirmation of the advancement of the Township of Irvington, Mayor Smith ran unopposed for a second term in May 2006 and assumed office in July 2006. He is the first chief executive of Irvington to accomplish the feat since Mayor Robert H. Miller in 1978. In November 2006, Mayor Smith was installed as the president and chairman of the 24-member NJ Urban Mayors' Association.  On May 4, 2010 Mayor Smith was elected to an unprecedented 3rd term in office.

Mayor Smith has been an active, prominent member of Irvington’s civic, political and social sectors throughout his 20 plus-year residency in the township. During this time, he has crafted key alliances with all levels of government, in addition to private enterprise. This ability to build consensus helped propel him to victory in 1996 as an Irvington Council Member At-Large. He was resoundingly re-elected two years later, and at that time, unanimously chosen by his colleagues to serve as president of the seven-member legislative body.

During his political and civic careers, Mayor Smith has been covered by The Star-Ledger, WCBS-TV, WNBC-TV, WWOR-TV, News Channel 12 and other media outlets. In addition, his efforts have been rewarded with awards and honors from numerous organizations. His greatest reward, however, comes from the heartfelt commitment made every day to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Township of Irvington.