Editing Salem, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Salem is governed under the [[City (New Jersey)|City]] form of New Jersey municipal government. The city is one of 15 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<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 government is comprised of the Mayor and the eight-member City Council. The mayor is elected [[at-large]] to a three-year term of office. The City Council is comprised of eight members, with four members representing one of two [[Ward (United States)|wards]], East and West. Council members are elected to four-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one seat from each ward up for election each year. All members of the governing body are chosen on a partisan basis as part of the November general election.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], April 2006, p. 19.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=4 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 4. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2022}}, the Mayor of Salem is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Jody Veler, whose term of office ends December 31, 2024. Members of the City Council are Council President Earl R. Gage (D, 2022; West Ward), Council President Pro Tempore Timothy H. Gregory Jr. (D, 2022; East Ward), Sharen A. Cline (D, 2024, East Ward), Robert L. Davis (D, 2023; East Ward), Vaughn Groce (D, 2025, East Ward), Sharon K. Kellum (D, 2024, West Ward), Gail Slaughter (D, 2023; West Ward) and James W. Smith (D, 2025; West Ward).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://cityofsalemnj.gov/city-council/ Mayor and Council], City of Salem. Accessed May 29, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://cityofsalemnj.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-budget-doc-min-1.pdf#page=11 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], City of Salem. Accessed May 29, 2022.</ref><ref name=Salem2021>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/OFFICIAL-General-Election-Results-Salem-County-2021-min.pdf Election Summary Report General Election Salem County November 2, 2021 Official Results Report], [[Salem County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Salem2020>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ElectionSummaryReportRPT-short-version-revised-min.pdf Election Summary Report Salem County NJ General Election November 3, 2020 Official Report], [[Salem County, New Jersey]], updated November 25, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Salem2019>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Official-Result-Summary-Report-min.pdf November 5, 2019 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results], [[Salem County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=Salem2018>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/OfficialSummaryReport11-6-2018.pdf November 6, 2018 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results], [[Salem County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 14, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.</ref>

Ruth Carter was named in October 2013 to fill the seat vacated in the previous month by Bob Johnson, who resigned due to family obligations.<ref>Young, Alex. [http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2013/10/salem_woman_appointed_to_city_council.html "Carter appointed to fill vacant seat on Salem City Council"], ''[[South Jersey Times]]'', October 8, 2013. Accessed November 4, 2013. "Longtime city resident Ruth Carter was appointed to fill the city council seat left vacant after former Councilman Bob Johnson resigned last month.... The seat Carter is taking over became available when Johnson — a longtime city councilman — decided to resign on Sept. 16, due to an out-of-state family obligation.... Puma said Carter will serve in her appointment seat until Nov. 4, 2014 (Election Day), and whoever wins that election would serve the remainder of Johnson's term until it expires on Dec. 31, 2016."</ref> Carter served on an interim basis until the November 2014 general election, when she was elected to fill the balance of the term of office through December 2016.<ref name=Salem2014>[http://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Official-Summary-Report-11-4-14.pdf November 4, 2014 Summary Report Salem County Official Results], [[Salem County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 24, 2014. Accessed July 29, 2016.</ref> Vaughn Groce was chosen in January 2013 to fill the seat of Charles Washington Jr., expiring in December 2013 that was vacated when he took office as mayor.<ref>Williams, Michael. [http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2013/01/new_member_named_to_salem_city.html "Salem City Council names new member to fill open seat"], ''[[South Jersey Times]]'', January 31, 2013. Accessed November 4, 2013. "A new member was appointed to Salem City Council to fill the seat vacated by Mayor Charles Washington Jr., city officials said. During a special meeting this week, council selected city resident Vaughn Groce to fill Washington's unexpired term through the end of the year."</ref>