Mayor Lester Taylor recently announced his intention not to run for re-election and to step down at the end of his four-year term.
At a news conference, Taylor, a father of three, said a commitment to his family is the principal reason for his decision.
He said, “Over the past four years, there hasn’t been a night that my children didn’t ask, ‘Daddy, will you be home before we go to bed?’ ‘Daddy can you take us ice skating or to the park?’ or ‘Daddy can you go on my field trip?’”
He added, “Too often I let them down as my staff and I worked long hours to ensure we were getting our city back on the right track. After some soul-searching and many conversations with my wife, I decided nothing should come before my family.”
Taylor was sworn into office as the 13th mayor of the City of East Orange. At the age of 39, he became the second youngest mayor in the city’s history. During his term as mayor, he launched several initiatives, including the Quality of Life Task Force, the East Orange College and Career Readiness Network and the Mentor Summit.
