West Windsor swears in mayor, reorders council leadership and confirms liaisons

At the West Windsor Township reorganization meeting on Jan. 14, Hemant Murate was sworn in as mayor and several leadership positions and liaison roles were confirmed by roll-call votes.

The clerk announced certified election results earlier in the evening: "Doctor Hamant Murate has been certified as mayor, elected with 5,382 votes," the record shows. After the oath of office, Murate thanked volunteers and staff and acknowledged policy priorities including affordable housing round 4 and the 2026 operating and capital budgets.

Council nominated and unanimously confirmed Sonia Gowas as council president. Gowas was sworn in and pledged to "perform all the duties of council president... according to the best of my ability." Andrea Mandel was nominated and confirmed as council vice president and sworn in. The council then confirmed multiple liaison and committee appointments by roll call, including Dan Weiss as affordable housing committee member and school board liaison, Joe Charles as recreation and parking authority liaison, and Linda Jeevers as planning board class 3 and shade tree commission liaison.

Why it matters: the reorganization sets leadership and liaison roles that direct which council members will carry responsibilities for key municipal functions and intergovernmental coordination in the coming year.

What’s next: the council will carry the confirmed appointments into the business agenda and begin work on budget and planning items for 2026.