Editing Far Hills, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Far Hills is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the mayor and the borough council, with all positions elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 77.</ref> The borough form of government used by Far Hills is a "[[weak mayor]] / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can [[veto]] ordinances subject to an [[veto override|override]] by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045019/http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html |date=2014-09-24 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]]. Accessed November 30, 2014.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 6. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, the mayor of Far Hills is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Kevin Welsh, whose term of office ends on December 31, 2026. Members of the Far Hills Borough Council are Council President David P. Karner (R, 2025), Joseph E. Carty (R, 2026), Mary Chimenti (R, 2024), Peter J. Cocoziello Jr. (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Richard L. Rinzler (R, 2025) and Charles P. Schwester (R, 2026) and Kevin Welsh (R, 2024).<ref name=Council>[https://www.farhillsnj.org/borough_council.php Borough Council], Borough of Far Hills. Accessed May 22, 2024. "The Borough of Far Hills Council consists of the Mayor and 6 Council members. The Mayor is elected for a four year term and Council members are elected for a three year term."</ref><ref>[https://cms1files.revize.com/farhills/2024%20Borough%20of%20Far%20Hills%20Budget%20-%20Adopted%205.13.2024.pdf 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Far Hills. Accessed May 22, 2024.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/46227/638203671214730000#page=58 ''2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices''], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]]. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref><ref name=Somerset2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Somerset/119024/web.317647/#/summary 2023 General Election November 7, 2023 Certified Official Results RESULTS], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]], November 29, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Somerset2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Somerset/116175/web.307039/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Final Certified Results], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]], updated November 23, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Somerset2021>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/43891/637725959984900000 2021 General Election Winning Candidates], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]]. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

Peter Cocoziello was appointed in January 2023 to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Kevin Walsh until he stepped down to take office as mayor.<ref>Perry, W. Jacob. [https://www.newjerseyhills.com/townnews/polo/ex-mayoral-candidate-appointed-to-far-hills-borough-council/article_9f847ef6-a0cc-11ed-94a6-a7bf6be3b229.html "Ex-mayoral candidate appointed to Far Hills Borough Council"], ''New Jersey Hills'', January 30, 2023. Accessed May 22, 2024. "The businessman, Peter Cocoziello of Lake Road, was appointed by the council on Monday, Jan. 23, to fill the seat that had been held by Kevin Welsh before Welsh was sworn in as mayor on Jan. 3."</ref> Cocoziello served on an interim basis until the November 2023 general election, when voters chose him to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Somerset2023/>

In November 2019, the borough council selected Ted McLean to fill the weeks remaining in the seat expiring in December 2019 that had been held by David R. Surks until he resigned from office earlier that month. Surks was re-elected in the November 2019 general election<ref>Perry, Jacob W. [https://www.newjerseyhills.com/bernardsville_news/news/new-council-member-takes-oath-in-far-hills-after-surks/article_99b21a83-9f83-5cc6-bd21-0c6012a3d033.html "New council member takes oath in Far Hills after Surks resigns"], ''The Bernardsville News'', November 27, 2019. Accessed February 20, 2020. "Edward R. McLean of Mallet Lane filled a vacancy left by the resignation of Republican Councilman David Surks, who quit shortly before the Nov. 5 election but remained on the ballot and was re-elected."</ref> In January 2020, McLean was appointed to fill Surks' term expiring in December 2022 and will serve on an interim basis until the November 2020 general election.<ref>[https://www.farhillsnj.org/2020%20Borough%20Council%20Minutes%20010620-Reorg.pdf Borough Council Reorganization Minutes for January 6, 2020], Borough of Far Hills. Accessed February 20, 2020. "Resolution 20-001: Appointment - Borough Council - Ted McLean.... Senator Thomas Kean Jr. administered the Oath of Office to Ted McLean as a member of the Borough Council for a term expiring at the next general election to be held November 2020."</ref>