Editing Mercer County, New Jersey (section)

===County government===
[[File:2014-08-30 11 07 51 View of Mercer County Court House in Trenton, New Jersey from the east.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Mercer County Courthouse (New Jersey)|Mercer County Courthouse]] in Trenton]]
[[File:Drumthwacket1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Drumthwacket]], the official residence of the [[Governor of New Jersey]], is located in [[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton]] and is listed on both the [[U.S. National Register of Historic Places]] and the [[New Jersey Register of Historic Places]].]]
Mercer County has a [[county executive]] form of government, in which the Mercer County Executive performs executive functions, administering the operation of the county, and a Board of County Commissioners acts in a legislative capacity.<ref>Rinde, Meir. [http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/10/26/explainer-what-s-a-freeholder-understanding-nj-s-complex-government-system/ "Explainer: What's a Freeholder? NJ's Unusual County Government System"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028133736/http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/10/26/explainer-what-s-a-freeholder-understanding-nj-s-complex-government-system/ |date=October 28, 2015 }}, NJ Spotlight, October 27, 2015. Accessed October 26, 2017. "Five counties &ndash; Atlantic, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Mercer &ndash; opted for popularly elected county executives in addition to freeholder boards."</ref><ref>Crespolini, Russ. [https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/freeholder-title-abolished-new-jersey "'Freeholder' Title Abolished In New Jersey"], Long Valley, NJ Patch. August 21, 2020. Accessed December 25, 2022.</ref><ref>Brunetti, Michelle. [https://pressofatlanticcity.com/news/murphy-signs-bill-into-law-to-change-freeholder-title-to-commissioner/article_dfee2290-4c09-5a93-9c0e-6d3407cc2a7c.html "Murphy signs bill into law to change 'freeholder' title to 'commissioner'"], ''[[Press of Atlantic City]]'', August 21, 2020. Accessed December 25, 2022.</ref> The county executive is directly elected to a four-year term of office. The seven-member [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|Board of County Commissioners]], previously known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, is elected at-large to serve three-year staggered terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats up for election each year. The Board is led by a Commissioner Chair and vice-chair, selected from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting held in January. The Commissioner Board establishes policy and provides a check on the powers of the County Executive. The Board approves all county contracts and gives advice and consent to the County Executive's appointments of department heads, and appointments to boards and commissions. The Commissioner Board votes to approve the budget prepared by the Executive after review and modifications are made.<ref>[http://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-freeholders-/about/what-is-a-freeholder What is a Freeholder?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171022193351/http://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-freeholders-/about/what-is-a-freeholder |date=October 22, 2017 }}, Mercer County, New Jersey. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref> In 2016, freeholders were paid $29,763 and the freeholder director was paid an annual salary of $31,763.<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 chairman: $31,763; Other freeholders: $29,763"</ref> That year, the county executive was paid $164,090 per year.<ref>Shea, Kevin. [http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2016/02/see_how_much_mercer_county_directors_will_be_paid.html "See the proposed salaries for Mercer County directors"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029071356/http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2016/02/see_how_much_mercer_county_directors_will_be_paid.html |date=October 29, 2017 }}, [[NJ.com]], February 11, 2016. Accessed October 28, 2017. "County Executive, $164,090"</ref>

{{As of|2025}}, the [[Mercer County Executive]] is [[Daniel R. Benson]] ([[Democratic Party (New Jersey)|D]], [[Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Hamilton Township]]) whose term of office ends December 31, 2027.<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-executive/meet-the-county-executive Meet the County Executive], Mercer County. Accessed January 20, 2024. "Message from County Executive Dan Benson"</ref> Mercer County's Commissioners are (with terms for chair and vice chair ending every December 31):

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Commissioner 
! Party, Residence, Term 
|-
| Chair John A. Cimino 
| D, [[Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Hamilton Township]], 2026<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/john-a-cimino John A. Cimino], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>  
|- 
| Vice Chair Kristin L. McLaughlin 
| D, [[Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Hopewell Township]], 2027<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/ann-m-cannon Kristin L. McLaughlin], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> 
|-
| Samuel T. Frisby Sr. 
| D, [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]], 2027<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/samuel-t-frisby-sr-chairman Samuel T. Frisby Sr.], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> 
|-
| Cathleen M. Lewis 
| D, [[Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey|Lawrence Township]], 2025<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/andrew-koontz Cathleen M. Lewis], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> 
|-
| Nina D. Melker 
| D, Hamilton Township, 2025<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/nina-d-melker-vice-chair Nina D. Melker], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> 
|-
| Terrance Stokes 
| D, Ewing Township, 2027<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/pasquale-pat-colavita-jr Terrance Stokes], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/ Meet the Commissioners], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/home/showpublisheddocument/22988/637819969746830000 2022 County Data Sheet], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|-
| Lucylle R. S. Walter 
| D, [[Ewing Township, New Jersey|Ewing Township]], 2026<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/board-of-county-commissioners/meet-the-commissioners/lucylle-r-s-walter Lucylle R. S. Walter], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|} 

Pursuant to Article VII Section II of the [[New Jersey State Constitution]], each county in New Jersey is required to 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>[https://www.nj.gov/state/archives/docconst47.html#page16 New Jersey State Constitution (1947), Article VII, Section II, Paragraph 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101123505/http://www.nj.gov/state/archives/docconst47.html |date=November 1, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed December 25, 2022.</ref> Mercer County's constitutional officers are:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Representative
|-
| County Clerk
| Paula Sollami-Covello (D, Lawrence Township, 2025),<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-clerk/meet-the-clerk Meet the Clerk], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/clerks/ Members List: Clerks], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> 
|-
| Sheriff
| John A. Kemler (D, Hamilton Township, 2026)<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/sheriff/meet-the-sheriff Meet the Sheriff], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/sheriffs/ Members List: Sheriffs], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref> 
|-
| Surrogate
|  Diane Gerofsky (D, Lawrence Township, 2026).<ref>[https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-surrogate/meet-the-surrogate Meet the Surrogate], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/surrogates/ Members List: Surrogates], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=TemplateOfficials>[http://www.mercercounty.org/home/showdocument?id=9138 Elected Officials for Mercer County], Mercer County. Accessed March 1, 2023.</ref>
|}

No Republican has won countywide office since 2000. Law enforcement on the county level is provided by the Mercer County Sheriff's Office and the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. The Mercer County Prosecutor is Angelo J. Onofri of Hamilton Township, who took office in December 2016 after being nominated by [[Governor of New Jersey]] [[Chris Christie]] and being confirmed by the [[New Jersey Senate]].<ref>[http://mercercountyprosecutor.com/the-prosecutor/ The Prosecutor - Angelo J. Onofri, Prosecutor] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026111113/http://mercercountyprosecutor.com/the-prosecutor/ |date=October 26, 2017 }}, Mercer County's Prosecutor Office. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Angelo J. Onofri was sworn in as Mercer County prosecutor on December 28, 2016, after being appointed by Governor Chris Christie and unanimously confirmed by the New Jersey Senate. He had been serving as acting prosecutor since March 1, 2015."</ref><ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552016/approved/20161014a.html "Governor Chris Christie Files Nominations"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170108164012/http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/552016/approved/20161014a.html |date=January 8, 2017 }}, [[Governor of New Jersey]] [[Chris Christie]], press release dated October 14, 2016. "MERCER COUNTY PROSECUTOR - Nominate for appointment Angelo Onofri (Hamilton, Mercer)"</ref> Mercer County constitutes Vicinage 7 of the [[Superior Court of New Jersey]].<ref name="NJ Courts">[https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/courts/vicinages/mercer.html Mercer Vicinage] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002164615/http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/courts/vicinages/mercer.html |date=October 2, 2017 }}, New Jersey Courts. Accessed October 21, 2017.</ref> The vicinage is seated at the Mercer County Criminal Courthouse, located at 400 South Warren Street in [[Trenton, New Jersey|Trenton]].<ref name = "NJ Courts" /> The vicinage has additional facilities for the Civil, Special Civil, General Equity, and Family Parts at the Mercer County Civil Courthouse, located at 175 South Broad Street, also in Trenton.<ref name = "NJ Courts" /> The Assignment Judge for Mercer County is Mary C. Jacobson.<ref name = "NJ Courts" />