Fil-Am councilor running for mayor in Mahwah, New Jersey

Jonathan S. Wong , 25, is a member of the Mahwah Township Council who is running for mayor. CONTRIBUTED

MAHWAH, New Jersey — Filipino American Councilman Jonathan S. Wong of Mahwah, N.J. is running for mayor of that township in the Nov. 8 elections.

At 25 years old, Wong is believed to be the youngest Asian American elected official in New Jersey, if not in the entire USA.

Wong is a businessman, licensed real estate broker and an aspiring lawyer. He expects to finish law school in December, one semester early.

When he was asked in 2013 why he was running for a seat on the Township Council, Wong, a millennial, replied, “I’m running for a seat on the Township Council because I believe it’s important for a younger generation to be involved in Mahwah politics and I would like to give back to a town that has given me so much.”

In a recent statement, the young candidate said he was humbled to see the support from the Mahwah community. Wong has won the respect of his constituents with his honest and transparent public service.

“I believe greater transparency in our township government is extremely crucial to the community and growth of our town — not just during Town Council meetings but through more areas of administration,” Wong explained when asked why he was running for mayor.

“I want to improve the leadership and vision for the future of the community. Mahwah is a great place to live. But the leadership requires reasonableness, cooperation and discipline between the Mayor and Council for the success of the town,” he added.

Wong parents, Steven and Grace Wong, raised him in Mahwah, where he has lived for 22 years. He graduated from Mahwah High School, Class of 2009.

In 2013, he finished his bachelor’s degree in finance and investments from the City University of New York’s Baruch College. He is a senior law student at Brooklyn Law School, a business owner and licensed real estate broker.