Editing Middlesex County, New Jersey (section)

==Government==
===County government===
[[File:MiddlesexCountyCourthouseNBNJ3.JPG|thumb|[[Civic Square, New Brunswick#Middlesex County Courthouse|Middlesex County Courthouse]]]]
Middlesex County is governed by a [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|Board of Commissioners]], which is comprised of seven members who are elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects from among its members a Commissioner Director and deputy director. The Commissioner Director appoints commissioners to serve as chairpersons and members on the various committees which oversee county departments.<ref name=Commissioners/> Middlesex County also elects three "constitutional officers" whose existence is laid out in the [[New Jersey Constitution]]. The County Clerk and Surrogate serve five-year terms and the Sheriff serves a three-year term of office.<ref>[http://www.coanj.com/clerks_history.php History of the County Clerk's Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826001432/http://coanj.com/clerks_history.php |date=August 26, 2013 }}, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.coanj.com/sheriffs_history.php History of the County Sheriff's Office] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826001634/http://coanj.com/sheriffs_history.php |date=August 26, 2013 }}, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.coanj.com/surrogates_history.php History of the Surrogate's Court] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826000514/http://coanj.com/surrogates_history.php |date=August 26, 2013 }}, Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref> In 2016, freeholders were paid $23,438 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $24,428, though Ronald Rios has accepted a salary of $8,340 as director.<ref>Gallo Jr., Bill. [http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/how_much_your_county_freeholders_others_in_nj_earn.html "Which N.J. county freeholders are paid the most?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026113548/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2016/03/how_much_your_county_freeholders_others_in_nj_earn.html |date=October 26, 2017 }}, [[NJ.com]], March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder director: $24,438 (Current Freeholder Director Don Rios has opted to take a salary of only $8,340.); Other freeholders: $23,438"</ref>

{{As of|2025}}, Middlesex County's Commissioners (with terms for director and deputy ending every December 31) are:<ref name=Commissioners>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/government/board-of-county-commissioners Board of County Commissioners], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022. "County Commissioner is a term used by all 21 of New Jersey's counties to describe county legislators. The residents of Middlesex County's 25 municipalities elect seven persons at-large to staggered three-year terms in the November general election to serve as members of the Board of County Commissioners. Every January, the Board selects one County Commissioner to serve as Director and another to serve as Deputy Director and all County Commissioners serve as chairpersons and members of various committees to oversee County departments."</ref><ref name=ElectedOfficials>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/government/elected-officials Elected Officials], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/3512/637828473891970000#page=7 2022 County Data Sheet], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Commissioner 
! Party, Residence, Term 
|-
| Director Ronald G. Rios 
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], [[Carteret, New Jersey|Carteret]], 2027<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/18/22 Ronald G. Rios], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Deputy Director Shanti Narra 
| D, [[North Brunswick, New Jersey|North Brunswick]], 2027<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/26/22 Shanti Narra], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Claribel A. "Clary" Azcona-Barber 
| D, [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]], 2025<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/28/22 Claribel A. Azcona-Barber], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Charles Kenny 
| D, [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge Township]], 2025<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/22/22 Charles Kenny], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
|Leslie Koppel 
| D, [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]], 2026<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/24/22 Leslie Koppel], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Chanelle Scott McCullum 
| D, [[Piscataway, New Jersey|Piscataway]], 2025<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/30/22 Chanelle Scott McCullum], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Charles E. Tomaro 
| D, [[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]], 2026<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/20/22 Charles E. Tomaro], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|}

Article VII Section II of the [[New Jersey State Constitution]] requires each county in New Jersey have three elected administrative officials known as "constitutional officers." These officers are the [[County Clerk]] and [[Probate Court|County Surrogate]] (both elected for five-year terms of office) and the [[Sheriff|County Sheriff]] (elected for a three-year term).<ref>[http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/docconst47.html#page16 New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref> Middlesex county's constitutional officers are:<ref name=ElectedOfficials/><ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/government/constitutional-officers Constitutional Officers], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Representative
|-
| County Clerk
| [[Nancy Pinkin]] (D, [[East Brunswick, New Jersey|East Brunswick]], 2025)<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/34/22 Nancy J. Pinkin], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref><ref>[http://coanj.com/member-list/clerks/ Clerks], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Sheriff
| Mildred S. Scott (D, Piscataway, 2025)<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/32/22 Sheriff Mildred S. Scott], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/sheriffs/ Sheriffs], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Surrogate
| Claribel Cortes (D, North Brunswick, 2026)<ref>[https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/36/22 Claribel Cortes], Middlesex County, New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/surrogates/ Surrogates], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 19, 2022.</ref>
|}

Republicans have not won countywide in Middlesex County since 1991. The Middlesex County Prosecutor has been Yolanda Ciccone since June 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Staff Directory List {{!}} Middlesex County NJ |url=https://www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Home/Components/StaffDirectory/StaffDirectory/144/22 |access-date=January 2, 2024 |website=www.middlesexcountynj.gov |language=en}}</ref> Middlesex County constitutes Vicinage 8 of the [[New Jersey Superior Court]]; the vicinage is seated at the Middlesex County Courthouse, at 56 Paterson Street in New Brunswick.<ref name="NJ Courts">[https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/courts/vicinages/middlesex.html Middlesex Vicinage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010211417/https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/courts/vicinages/middlesex.html |date=October 10, 2017 }}, New Jersey Courts. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref> The Middlesex Vicinage also has facilities for the Family Part at the Middlesex County Family Courthouse at 120 New Street, also in New Brunswick; there are also other facilities in New Brunswick and Perth Amboy for Probation.<ref name="NJ Courts" /> The Assignment Judge for Vicinage 8 is Alberto Rivas.<ref name="NJ Courts" />

=== Federal representatives ===
The 6th and 12th congressional districts cover the county.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/leg-cong-district-info/2012-congressional-districts-by-county.pdf 2012 Congressional Districts by County] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526005115/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/leg-cong-district-info/2012-congressional-districts-by-county.pdf |date=May 26, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204063248/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf |date=December 4, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2011. Accessed October 6, 2013.</ref> {{NJ Congress 06}} {{NJ Congress 12}}

=== State representatives ===
The 25 municipalities of Middlesex County are part of seven legislative districts. 
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!District
!Senator<ref name=Roster>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/roster.asp Legislative Roster], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 20, 2024.</ref>
!Assembly<ref name=Roster/>
!Municipalities 
|-
|[[New Jersey's 12th legislative district|12th]]
|[[Owen Henry]] [[Republican Party (United States)|(R)]]
|[[Alex Sauickie]] (R)
[[Robert D. Clifton]] (R)
|[[Helmetta, New Jersey|Helmetta]], [[Old Bridge Township, New Jersey|Old Bridge]], and [[Spotswood, New Jersey|Spotswood]]. The remainder of this district covers portions of [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington County]], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth County]] and [[Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean County]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 14th legislative district|14th]]
|[[Linda R. Greenstein]] [[Democratic Party (United States)|(D)]]
|[[Wayne DeAngelo]] (D)
[[Tennille McCoy]] (D)
|[[Cranbury, New Jersey|Cranbury Township]], [[Jamesburg, New Jersey|Jamesburg]], [[Monroe Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey|Monroe Township]], and [[Plainsboro Township, New Jersey|Plainsboro]]. The remainder of this district covers portions of [[Mercer County, New Jersey|Mercer County]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 16th legislative district|16th]]
|[[Andrew Zwicker]] (D)
|[[Mitchelle Drulis]] (D)
[[Roy Freiman]] (D)
|[[South Brunswick, New Jersey|South Brunswick]]. The remainder of this district covers portions of [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon County]], Mercer County, and [[Somerset County, New Jersey|Somerset County]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 17th legislative district|17th]]
|[[Bob Smith (New Jersey state senator)|Bob Smith]] (D)
|[[Kevin Egan (New Jersey politician)|Kevin Egan]] (D)
[[Joseph Danielsen]] (D)
|[[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]], [[North Brunswick, New Jersey|North Brunswick]], and [[Piscataway, New Jersey|Piscataway]]. The remainder of this district covers portions of Somerset County.
|-
|[[New Jersey's 18th legislative district|18th]]
|[[Patrick J. Diegnan]] (D)
|[[Robert Karabinchak]] (D)
[[Sterley Stanley]] (D)
|[[East Brunswick, New Jersey|East Brunswick]], [[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]], [[Highland Park, New Jersey|Highland Park]], [[Metuchen, New Jersey|Metuchen]], [[Milltown, New Jersey|Milltown]], [[South Plainfield, New Jersey|South Plainfield]], and [[South River, New Jersey|South River]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 19th legislative district|19th]]
|[[Joe F. Vitale]] (D)
|[[Craig Coughlin]] (D)
[[Yvonne Lopez]] (D)
|[[Carteret, New Jersey|Carteret]], [[Perth Amboy, New Jersey|Perth Amboy]], [[Sayreville, New Jersey|Sayreville]], [[South Amboy, New Jersey|South Amboy]], and [[Woodbridge Township, New Jersey|Woodbridge]].
|-
|[[New Jersey's 21st legislative district|21st]]
|[[Jon Bramnick]] (R)
|[[Nancy Munoz]] (R)
[[Michele Matsikoudis]] (R)
|[[Dunellen, New Jersey|Dunellen]] and [[Middlesex, New Jersey|Middlesex Borough]]. The remainder of this district covers portions of Somerset County, Morris County, and [[Union County, New Jersey|Union County]].
|}

=== Law enforcement ===
Thomas N. Acken served as the sheriff in 1891. Joseph Spicuzzo served in 2014 and was arrested for bribery.<ref>{{cite news|title=How A Crooked Former Sheriff Persuaded The State To Let Him Out Of Prison|url=http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2016/02/how_a_crooked_sheriff_convinced_the_state_to_let_h.html|newspaper=[[NJ.com]]|date=February 1, 2016|access-date=February 3, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180204071222/http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2016/02/how_a_crooked_sheriff_convinced_the_state_to_let_h.html|archive-date=February 4, 2018}}</ref> Mildred S. Scott is the current county sheriff, she was sworn in on January 1, 2011, as the first female sheriff of Middlesex County and the first African-American sheriff in the state of New Jersey.<ref>Strunsky, Steve. [https://www.nj.com/news/2018/01/njs_county_sheriffs_who_are_they_what_are_they_pai.html "The duties, pay and &ndash; for most &ndash; pensions of N.J.'s 21 sheriffs"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], January 29, 2018, updated May 15, 2019. Accessed February 9, 2022. "Middlesex County Sheriff Mildred Scott, a Democrat, was elected in 2010, making her the first African-American woman to be elected sheriff in New Jersey, and the first woman sheriff in Middlesex."</ref>