Walter Reed Gusciora has served as the Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey's capital city, since July 1, 2018. Prior to his mayoral tenure, he represented the 15th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly for 22 years, from 1996 to 2018. During his legislative career, he held several leadership positions including Deputy Majority Leader from 2008 to 2018, Assistant Majority Leader from 2006 to 2007, and Assistant Minority Leader from 1998 to 2001

Gusciora earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations from The Catholic University of America and a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1988. His professional background includes work as an attorney, congressional aide to the late Representative Mike Synar of Oklahoma, campaign aide to New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Barbara Boggs Sigmund, and municipal prosecutor for Princeton, Lawrence Township, and Hopewell Borough. He has also served as an adjunct professor in the Political Science Department at The College of New Jersey

Born in Passaic, New Jersey, Gusciora developed connections to Trenton during his childhood through his father, who worked at the New Jersey Department of Health in the city. In 2011, following legislative redistricting that placed his Princeton residence in a different district, Gusciora moved to Trenton to continue representing the 15th District, which he had served for over two decades 

Political Career

• New Jersey General Assembly, 15th Legislative District (1996–2018)

• Deputy Majority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly (2008–2018)

• Assistant Majority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly (2006–2007)

• Assistant Minority Leader, New Jersey General Assembly (1998–2001)

• Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey (2018–present; re-elected 2022, term ends December 31, 2026)

Key Policy Areas

• Environmental protection and sustainability

• Public safety and community policing

• Economic development and housing

• Youth services and education

• Healthcare access and public health

• Government transparency and ethics reform

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Authored the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, prohibiting smoking in indoor public places and workplaces
• Sponsored legislation legalizing medical marijuana in New Jersey

• Successfully negotiated with Governor Phil Murphy's administration for the return of Capital City Aid to Trenton

• Established Trenton's first Neighborhood Health Clinic and launched the Trenton Youth "WIN" App to connect youth with essential services

• Selected for the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative (2019–2020), a program for mayors focused on innovative city leadership

Education

• B.A., Politics and International Relations, The Catholic University of America

• J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law (1988)

Personal

• Birth date: March 27, 1960

• Residence: Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey