Editing Raritan, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Raritan 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. The mayor is elected [[direct election|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 Raritan 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|2025}}, the [[mayor]] of the Borough of Raritan is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Nicolas Carra, whose term of office expires December 31, 2027.<ref>{{cite web |title=MAYOR NICOLAS J. CARRA |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/mayor-nicolas-j-carra |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref> Members of the Raritan Borough Council are Council President Donald Tozzi (R, 2026),<ref>{{cite web |title=Council President Don Tozzi |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/council-president-don-tozzi |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref> Michael Patente (R, 2026),<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilman Michael Patente |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/councilman-michael-patente |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref> Umesh Agrawal (R, 2025),<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilman Umesh Agrawal |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/councilman-umesh-agrawal |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/46227/638203671214730000#page=67 ''2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices''], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]]. Accessed April 10, 2024.</ref>Adam Armahizer ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 2025),<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilman Adam Armahizer |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/councilman-adam-armahizer |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref> Kenneth DiGraziano (R, 2027)<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilman Kenneth DiGraziano |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/councilman-kenneth-digraziano |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref> and David Fritzinger (R, 2027).<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilman David Fritzinger |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/councilman-david-fritzinger |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>

In January 2024, the borough council appointed Republican Umesh Agrawal to fill the seat expiring in December 2025 that became vacant when Nicolas J. Carra took office as mayor earlier that month; Agrawal served on an interim basis until the November 2024 general election in which he won his election to serve the remainder of Carra's term.<ref>{{cite web |title=Councilman Umesh Agrawal |url=https://www.raritanboro.org/Officials/Bio/councilman-umesh-agrawal |website=The Official Website of the Borough of Raritan, NJ |access-date=7 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=And the Winners in Raritan Borough Are … |url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/bridgewater-slash-raritan/sections/elections/articles/and-the-winners-in-raritan-borough-are-371e18b4-00c4-4a0f-b5f8-1673fc02befb |website=TAP into the BReeze |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>

In May 2024, the borough council appointed Republican Kenneth DiGraziano to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that became vacant when Joyce Melitsky resigned earlier that month; DiGraziano served on an interim basis until the November 2024 general election in which he won his election to serve a full three-year term. <ref>{{cite web |title=Raritan Swears in New Council Person, New Police Officer |url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/bridgewater-slash-raritan/sections/police-and-fire/articles/raritan-swears-in-new-council-person-new-police-officer |website= TAPinto The Breeze |access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=And the Winners in Raritan Borough Are … |url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/bridgewater-slash-raritan/sections/elections/articles/and-the-winners-in-raritan-borough-are-371e18b4-00c4-4a0f-b5f8-1673fc02befb |website=TAP into the BReeze |access-date=1 March 2025}}</ref>

Rocco Miele was Raritan's first mayor, serving from its founding in 1948 to 1953.<ref>[http://www.raritan-online.com/mayors-of-raritan.htm Raritan's Mayors], Raritan Online. Accessed November 26, 2011.</ref>