Stephany Kim-Chohan serves as Council President and chairs the Finance Committee, leading with a focus on fiscal stewardship and transparent budgeting. A longtime community banker, she is Assistant Vice President & Branch Manager at CTBC Bank. She also serves as an Advisory Board Member with Elijah’s Promise, the New Brunswick nonprofit that harnesses the power of food to fight hunger and change lives.

Raised in Newark in public housing by a single parent, Stephany is the daughter of a Korean immigrant father and an African American mother. She benefited from government supported youth programs that opened doors to swimming lessons, ice-skating, Broadway performances and many more opportunities her family could not otherwise have afforded at the time. Those early experiences continue to shape her commitment to equitable access, economic mobility, and resident centered governance. She later studied early childhood education in college, deepening her dedication to supporting children and families across the community.

As Finance Chair, Stephany’s priorities include responsible budgeting and taxpayer transparency; multiyear capital planning aligned with realistic revenue assumptions; maximizing grants and shared services savings; prudent management of reserves and long-term obligations; and policies that support local small businesses. She champions plain language budget summaries, clear dashboards on major projects, and regular public updates so residents can easily see how dollars are allocated and why. She emphasizes cross department collaboration to reduce duplication, performance metrics to guide investment, and a disciplined approach to capital planning that balances today’s needs with tomorrow’s obligations.

On Council, she has also chaired the Recreation & Arts Committee and the Health & Human Services Committee. Beyond the Borough, Stephany serves as a member of the Middlesex County Planning Board, collaborating on regional planning priorities that impact transportation, housing, economic development, and open space.

Her broader public service has included prior service as a District 13 Committeewoman and on the Highland Park Planning Board.

Drawing on her banking background, she often works with entrepreneurs and community groups to navigate resources, build relationships, and support a vibrant local economy.

Stephany lives on Lawrence Avenue with her husband, Narinder; their toddler son, Ocean; and their miniature poodle, Valentino. She enjoys attending the US Open and traveling. Say hello if you see her at one of Highland Park’s bubble tea shops.

Recognitions include InsiderNJ’s “Insider 100: Millennials,” the New Jersey Bankers Association’s “New Leaders in Banking” award, the NAACP Metuchen–Edison President’s Award, and the New Jersey Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce “Diversity Champion” Award.