Family and friends surprised outgoing Mayor Susan Shin Angulo at the township municipal building on Dec. 13 to unveil a portrait celebrating her four years in office.
Prior to being mayor, Shin Angulo served on council from 2010 to 2015 and achieved two New Jersey firsts: the first Korean American woman elected to public office and the first Asian American to serve as a county commissioner, then known as a freeholder.
Shin Angulo was elected mayor in 2019 and took office in January of 2020, two months ahead of the pandemic.
“I’ve always loved Cherry Hill,” she said. “I’ve been in Cherry Hill for over 24 years and it was such a meaningful process to run.”
During COVID, the new mayor’s background in genetics and biology came in handy as she worked to make services more accessible. In an interview with the Center for American Women and Politics, Shin Angulo recounted quickly making temporary use permits available and waiving application fees for restaurants to set up outdoor seating.
Meetings became available via Zoom during her tenure and were livestreamed for the public, and a drop box was added at town hall for residents to bring their taxes and other documents safely to the townshp.
“I have to say it was a teamwork,” Shin Angulo recalled. “All the department heads worked together and it was really wonderful.”
Her top three priorities in office were improving public safety, preserving open space and updating recreational facilities. Along with council, Shin Angulo updated streets and stormwater drainage; kept the tax rate flat; preserved open space and historic sights such as Croft Farm and the Covered Bridge; and worked on safety measures with Police Chief Robert Kempf and Fire Chief Wade Houlihan.
In a message published in The Sun, the mayor also reflected on the efforts made in improving human relations.
“I am incredibly proud of what we achieved together, regardless of faith, race, background, orientation, or political affiliation,” Shin Angulo wrote. “We reinvigorated the dormant Human Relations Advisory Committee. We confronted social injustices and stood together against acts of violence and discrimination.”
Shin Angulo hopes that safety will remain a priority in the new year and that the townshiip will continue to revitalize parks. And she alluded to her work with kids.
“What I’ll definitely miss is being with the youth,” she related. “Whether it is at Cherry Bowl or a baseball match or a baseball first pitch, or even reading across America and going to the schools and learning about the kids … Just those sorts of things.
“I’ll miss that because they are future leaders, so those are dear to my heart for sure.”
Shin Angulo’s portrait will hang alongside other former mayors in the township building’s John Amato council chambers.
