| J. Christian Bollwage | |
| Office: | Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey |
| Term Start: | January 1, 1993 |
| Predecessor: | Thomas G. Dunn |
| Party: | Democrat |
| Birth Name: | James Christian Bollwage[1] |
| Birth Date: | 7 December 1954 |
| Birth Place: | Elizabeth, New Jersey |
| Occupation: | Adjunct Professor in the Public Administration Department at Kean University |
James Christian (Chris) Bollwage is the mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey, the state's fourth-largest city.[2] [3] A lifelong resident of Elizabeth, he was elected into his first term in 1992, and reelected in November 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and 2020.[2] He has been the president of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities.
He is a 1972 graduate of St. Mary of the Assumption High School.[4] He graduated from Kean University with a bachelor's degree in 1981 and with a master's degree in 1989.[2] [5] Kean University gave Bollwage an honorary degree in 2002.[5] Bollwage is an adjunct professor in the Public Administration Department at Kean University.[2]
Bollwage's vision of the future of Elizabeth included "Go-Green" initiatives, collegiate corridor concept, remodeling of Midtown train station, and expansion of economic development, recreation, housing and transportation. He also unveiled a foreclosure assistance program, a Healthy Elizabeth initiative and camera surveillance network.[6]