MAYOR • ELECTED 2024
FORMER BOROUGH COUNCIL PRESIDENT
COUNCIL PERSON • ELECTED 2018

“I am honored to serve as Mayor of Atlantic Highlands. In this role, I have championed a collaborative approach to responding to the needs of our neighbors, our community, and our borough employees. I am working side-by-side with the council to bring regionalization to fruition, celebrate our town’s diverse residents, improve accessibility to public meetings, and establish the Open Space committee. I also formerly served on the Harbor, Finance, Personnel, Police, and Shade Tree commissions, and the Cannabis Research committee.

“A lot of the work of the Atlantic Highlands council is done behind the scenes. As Mayor, I am able to publicly set an active agenda to address what is important to Atlantic Highlands. This includes promoting a vibrant, welcoming harbor that maximizes enjoyment for our residents, visitors, and tenants; supporting the efforts underway to closely examine our building codes and regulations to be sure our historic business district retains its small-town feel; proactively communicating to residents when important decisions are in the works; and prioritizing long-neglected issues.”

Lori and her husband Paul, owner of Jersey Shore Coffee Roasters, have been AH residents for almost 20 years. They are outnumbered by their three dogs (Tessie, Billie Holiday, and Cisco).

COUNCIL PERSON • ELECTED 2023

Vito Colasurdo, Jr. has been a resident of Atlantic Highlands since October 2019, along with his wife, Sarah, and two dogs, Zurich and Swiss. Vito is a seasoned family law attorney with his own practice, Colasurdo Law, based in Red Bank, NJ. He is a member of the Monmouth County Bar Association and Barry Croland Inns of Court, and also serves on the New Jersey Bar Family Law Executive Committee.

In his short time on council, Vito was integral in the purchasing of a new fire truck for the borough's volunteer fire department and added a new voice on the issue of regionalization, which passed as a referendum in September 2023.

Vito currently serves as Council Liaison to the Fire Department, the Environmental Commission, and the Shade Tree and Recreation Committees. He is also a member of the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council and the Atlantic Highlands Yacht Club.

COUNCIL PERSON • ELECTED 2019

“As an Emmy Award–winning producer of shows such as “Impractical Jokers,” collaboration is a skill I use to achieve goals for our community. In my two terms as councilman, I’ve authored 14 laws including a ban on single use plastics; levied fines against new construction with insufficient parking; and created a law allowing for art in public spaces.

“I’ve also designed the borough’s livestream system, overhauled the town’s website, and recently created the Atlantic Highlands emergency radio station (1690 AM) initiatives that improve communication between residents and local government. I’ve also enjoyed producing our yearly Movie Nights at the Marina, the Music and Food Truck Festival, and Atlantic Highlands Day. During my third term, I plan to create a borough television station operated by students, as well as continuing my mission to create a community recreation center, more open space, and bring affordable housing for seniors to Atlantic Highlands.”

Jon has been married 22 years to his wife Suzanne and their son is a recent graduate of Henry Hudson High School.

COUNCIL PERSON • ELECTED 2023

Eileen Cusack, a proud resident of Atlantic Highlands since 1984, lives with her 2 adult children, Mary Kate and Brendan, and 2 rescue beagles, Carson and Lily.  Eileen is semi-retired after a nearly 45 year career in healthcare and nonprofits as a clinician and administrator. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, was a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, and continues to teach and consult in medical social work, bioethics and end of life care.

At the local level, Eileen is a member of the Atlantic Highlands Lions Club, the Atlantic Highlands Senior Citizens Club, the Morning Book Club, the Atlantic Highlands Historical Society and is a congregant of OLPH-St. Agnes. On the wider community level, Eileen is a member of the Democratic National Committee, the National Association of Social Workers, NJ Goals of Care Coalition, and the Bio-ethics Committee of RWJ University Hospital-Rahway.

Eileen currently serves as Council Liaison to the Office of Emergency Management, Senior Citizens, and the newly created Veterans’ Services Committees. She sits on the Cannabis Research and Mayor's Wellness Campaign Task Forces. Eileen also is an Atlantic Highlands Police Commissioner.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT • ELECTED 2021

Brian Dougherty was elected to Atlantic Highlands Borough Council in 2021. He and his wife Erin have lived in Atlantic Highlands since 2012 where they are raising their three children and one dog, Ember.

Councilman Dougherty was elected Council President in 2024. His committee service includes the Finance and Personnel Committee (Chair), Planning Board, Environmental Commission, Recreation Committee, and as liaison to the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education. He previously served on the Technology and Communications Committee, Shade Tree Commission, Parking Committee, the EMS Task Force and as liaison to the Atlantic Highlands Fire Department. He coaches baseball and soccer and is a former board member of Sandy Hook Little League.

Professionally, Mr. Dougherty maintains two vibrant careers. He works in board administration at The Rockefeller University in New York and sings professionally. For over 25 years, he has performed with symphony orchestras, in operas, musicals and cabarets, in venues ranging from churches to Carnegie Hall to Madison Square Garden (and just about everywhere in between). He has appeared alongside Sting, Madonna, Andrea Bocelli, and Paul McCartney.

He is a proud union member of the American Guild of Musical Artists and Actors Equity Association.

COUNCIL PERSON • ELECTED 2024

Alyson Forbes and her husband Nicolas live in Atlantic Highlands with their two rescue dogs, Dexter and Blue (aka Big and Little). Alyson is the Publisher and COO of Catapult, an independent publishing house dedicated to amplifying underrepresented and diverse voices. Through her work with Catapult, she is frequently called upon to support free speech initiatives and participate in legal strategies that combat book banning and ensure open access to literature across the country. Alyson is also the founder of Perfect Bound, a start-up that seeks connect independent publishers and authors to new and dynamic print suppliers around the globe.

As an elected official, Alyson serves as council liaison to the Finance and Personnel Committee, the Green Team, and the Environmental and Harbor Commissions. She is also a member of the Monmouth County Democrats, the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council, and the Friends of the Atlantic Highlands Library.

Alyson is specifically interested in building an equitable and diverse community, supporting and growing our small business-focused downtown, and working towards future proofing the NJ coastline against environmental challenges.