Former Moorestown Mayor Resigns From Town Council

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Moorestown Council Member Nicole Gillespie announced Wednesday that she is resigning from public office, citing recent career changes.

Her resignation takes effect at 5 p.m. Friday.

Gillespie, a Democrat, was first elected to Town Council in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022. As a council member, she served as mayor from 2020 through the end of 2024.

Over the past year, the former Naval officer launched a consulting firm that works with nonprofits. She also became Cherry Hill Township's director of engineering this summer.

Moorestown Council positions are part-time roles. The council selects one of its members to serve as mayor at the beginning of each calendar year.

"This past year, I started a new job and launched my own business, both of which require significant time and attention," Gillespie said in her resignation announcement to constituents. "After a lot of thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that I can no longer give Council the focus and dedication that this important role demands and that our community deserves."

Gillespie's elected council term runs through 2026. Under state law, the local Democratic committee must field candidates for the vacancy, and council members will select one of them to succeed her in the coming weeks.

The Moorestown Democratic Committee said Gillespie "left an indelible mark on our community," especially while serving as mayor during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Anyone who stays close to township work knows how tirelessly she gave of her time and her energy," the committee said in a statement. "We are lucky to have had her leadership, intellect and strategic thinking on Moorestown Council for the last 7 years and she will be sorely missed."

At this time last year, Gillespie was running for State Assembly with hopes to succeed then-Assembly Member Herb Conaway, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

She remained on council during her campaign. But she stepped aside as mayor at the end of her annual term, setting the stage for then-Deputy Mayor Quinton Law to succeed her last January.

But her assembly bid was unsuccessful. A few weeks later, the Burlington County Democratic Committee voted for then-County Commissioner Balvir Singh to finish Conaway's assembly term during a special election convention.

The Township Council will next meet at 7 p.m. Monday for the annual reorganization meeting at Town Hall (111 W 2nd St.).

Moorestown's council has five members, including a mayor and deputy mayor who are appointed to their respective roles at the annual reorganization meeting.

Gillespie's departure temporarily leaves Moorestown with four council members — all of whom are Democrats.

"This has not been an easy decision to make," Gillespie said. "However, I am confident that Moorestown is in excellent hands with our current Council. Their dedication, integrity, and commitment to our township's future give me great peace of mind as I step away from this role."

Here's Gillespie's full resignation announcement: