Mayor Nora Radest

radest headshot

Welcome Message


As Mayor, I pledge to listen, to work hard for you every day, to be a forceful and effective advocate, and to always endeavor to be visible, engaged, open-minded, accountable and ever-focused on the needs, interests and concerns of the entire community. 

I promise to be a visible advocate for all of Summit. To me that means everything from cultivating our corporate neighbors so that they continue to provide jobs, revenue, and services to Summit, to calmly sitting with the County to make sure we get our fair share, to making sure Summit delivers for our youth as well as our seniors. It also means taking a strong and visible leadership role when our community faces challenges, even those that are unforeseeable, and pounding the table when needed.

Letter to the Editor - Broad Street West

  1. Mayor Radest's Letter to the Editor Regarding the Broad Street West Redevelopment

Background and Community Engagement


Nora Radest is serving her second term as Mayor of Summit, NJ. She has been an active volunteer in Summit for more than 30 years. After moving to Summit in 1989, Nora became involved in PTO activities ultimately serving on the PTA/PTO Legislative Committee. In 1995, she was a founding member of Speak Up Summit, an advocacy group for the Summit public schools, and served as its president.
Nora was a member of the Board of Education from 1997 to 2002, serving as the president for the 1998/1999 academic year. In that year the Board of Education approved the 23 million dollar renovation and expansion of Summit High School.
Nora was a member of the board of trustees of the Summit Educational Foundation from 2004-2012 and served as president from 2008-2011. Along with a group of dedicated volunteers, she spearheaded the establishment of an endowment fund for SEF. This was and still is one of the few public school endowments in the state. Nora currently serves on the boards of The Connection and the PEP Foundation.

Nora graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College and received a JD from Fordham Law School. She practiced law in the area of commercial real estate.

2020 Swearing-In

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  1. Groundbreaking ceremony for new Fire Headquarters

    Join elected officials, city staff and other community leaders for a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Summit Fire Department Headquarters at 301 Broad St. on Thursday, October 28 at 10AM. Members of the public are invited to attend. New building renderings

  2. Voting in upcoming 2021 General Election

    Registered voters may VOTE EARLY at any designated Union County location between 10/23 and 10/31, or request a ballot at unioncountyvotes.com to vote BY MAIL, or vote ON ELECTION DAY, Tuesday 11/2 at regular polling place. More info & printable flyer
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State of the City & Mayoral Addresses

  1. 2021 State of the City Address (PDF)
  2. 2020 State of the City Address (PDF)
  3. 2019 State of the City Address (PDF)
  4. 2018 State of the City Address (PDF)
  5. 2017 State of the City Address (PDF)
  6. 2016 State of the City Address (PDF)

2020 Appointments

  1. 2021 Mayoral Appointments
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