Walk through the streets of Fort Lee today and you’ll see a skyline that looks nothing like it did twenty years ago. You’ve got these massive, shimmering glass towers—The Modern—reaching up toward the George Washington Bridge, and a downtown area called Hudson Lights that’s basically a billion-dollar success story. At the center of it all is Mark Sokolich, the guy who has been running this town since 2008.
Honestly, if you mention his name outside of Bergen County, most people immediately think of "Bridgegate." It’s that massive 2013 scandal where traffic was weaponized because a local mayor wouldn't endorse a governor. But for the people living in the shadow of the world’s busiest bridge, Sokolich is a lot more than just a footnote in a Chris Christie political drama. He’s the longest-serving mayor in the borough's history, a basketball-playing attorney who survived losing both his parents as a kid and somehow turned a dormant 16-acre dirt lot into a "Shining City on the Hill."
The Man Behind the Fort Lee Transformation
Mark Sokolich is a lifelong resident. That matters here. He graduated from Fort Lee High in '81, played Division I ball at Rutgers, and then went to Seton Hall for law. He’s not some career politician who dropped in from another zip code; he’s the guy who coaches the local youth soccer and flag football teams.
Before he was the face of the town, he spent four terms on the Borough Council. When Mayor Jack Alter passed away unexpectedly, Sokolich stepped up as the Democratic candidate and won. Since then, he hasn't looked back.
His obsession? Redevelopment.
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For nearly 50 years, a huge chunk of Fort Lee sat empty. It was a joke. It was an eyesore. Sokolich basically made it his life’s work to fix that. Today, that land is Hudson Lights and The Modern towers. People talk about the traffic (and trust me, there is always traffic in Fort Lee), but they also talk about the property values and the fact that the town feels like the "envy of northern New Jersey" again.
That Time the Bridge Stopped Moving
You can't talk about Mark Sokolich without talking about the "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" email.
It was September 2013. Three toll lanes were suddenly cut down to one. The gridlock was insane. Emergency vehicles couldn't get through. School buses were stuck for hours. At first, the Port Authority claimed it was a "traffic study." But the truth was way pettier: it was a retaliatory strike against Sokolich for not backing Chris Christie's reelection.
Sokolich was famously called a "little Serbian" in those leaked emails—even though he's actually of Croatian descent. He handled it with a kind of quiet fury that actually boosted his profile. He stayed focused on the safety of his residents rather than just trading political barbs.
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The fallout was massive:
- Federal indictments for Bridget Anne Kelly and Bill Baroni.
- A Supreme Court case that eventually overturned those convictions on technical grounds (basically saying it was abuse of power but not technically federal fraud).
- The complete implosion of Chris Christie's presidential ambitions.
Through it all, Sokolich just kept being the mayor.
What He's Doing in 2026
As of early 2026, Sokolich is still at the helm. He’s in his 18th year of service. He’s still the managing partner of his own law firm on Anderson Avenue, and he’s still showing up to swear in council members and celebrate Korean American Day with local businesses.
He’s overseen a $1.5 billion "renaissance." We're talking new parks, a film center, and state-of-the-art resources for the police and fire departments. He’s also focused on the boring stuff that actually matters—like bond debt reduction and fixing the sewer systems.
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A Few Things Most People Forget About Him:
- He’s an athlete: He was a walk-on for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. He actually broke his ankle in high school, which cost him his original scholarships, but he fought his way onto a D1 team anyway.
- He’s a family man: He’s been married to his wife, Denise, for over three decades. They’ve got two sons and a rescue Golden Retriever named Daisy.
- He’s proud of his roots: He makes an annual "pilgrimage" to Croatia. He’s a big fan of Luka Modrić and the Croatian national soccer team.
Why Should You Care?
Fort Lee is the gateway to New York City. Whatever happens there—whether it's a massive skyscraper project or a political scandal—ripples through the entire tri-state area. Sokolich represents a dying breed of local politician: the guy who actually lives in the town he runs, knows the shop owners by name, and stays in the job long enough to actually see a twenty-year plan come to life.
If you’re looking for a case study on how local leadership can survive a national scandal and come out stronger on the other side, Mark Sokolich is the guy to watch. He turned a "retributive attack" into a platform for civic pride.
Next Steps for You:
Check out the Fort Lee Borough website or their official social media pages to see the latest updates on the "Hudson Lights" project or upcoming town hall meetings. If you're a local, you can reach out to the Mayor's office directly via the Borough directory for concerns regarding local infrastructure or upcoming redevelopment phases scheduled for late 2026.