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==Government== ===Local government=== Scotch Plains is governed within the [[Faulkner Act]], formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the [[Faulkner Act (councilβmanager)|Council-Manager]] form of New Jersey municipal government. The township is one of 42 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 governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the four-member Township Council. Council members are elected [[at-large]] in partisan elections to serve four-year terms of office on a staggered basis in even-numbered years, with the Mayor and one of the council members elected in years divisible by four and the three other council seats coming up for election two years later. The Mayor and the Councilmembers are the only elected officials in the township government. The Mayor and Council then appoint a Township Manager, who serves as the chief executive officer of the Township, with the authority to appoint most subordinate personnel.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 98.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=12 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 12. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[http://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/form-govt.html Form of Government], Township of Scotch Plains. Accessed August 26, 2013.</ref> {{As of|2024}}, the mayor of Scotch Plains is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Joshua G. Losardo, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2024. Members of the Township Council are Deputy Mayor Ellen Zimmerman (D, 2024), Matthew S. Adams (D, 2026), Elizabeth Stamler (D, 2026), and Roshan "Roc" White (D, 2026).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/government/mayor-council/ Mayor and Council], Scotch Plains Township. Accessed April 27, 2024.</ref><ref name=UnionOfficials>[https://unioncountyvotes.com/elected-officials/ Elected Officials], [[Union County, New Jersey]]. Accessed April 27, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/116135/web.303253/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2020>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/107155/web.262169/#/summary General Election November 3, 2020 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated December 14, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref> In January 2021, the Township Council chose Suman Dahiya-Shah from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the council seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Joshua Losardo until he stepped down to take office as mayor.<ref>Staff. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/scotch-plains-slash-fanwood/sections/government/articles/newly-appointed-scotch-plains-councilwoman-suman-dahiya-shah-resigns-after-just-two-months-on-the-governing-body "Newly Appointed Scotch Plains Councilwoman Suman Dahiya-Shah Resigns After Just Two Months on the Governing Body"], TAP into Scotch Plains / Fanwood, March 21, 2021. Accesses April 11, 2022. "Scotch Plains Mayor Josh Losardo began the township council meeting on Tuesday, March 16, by announcing that Councilwoman Suman Dahiya-Shah, whom he appointed in January to fill his unexpired council term when he became mayor, has resigned. Losardo said that Councilwoman Dahiya-Shah said she submitted her resignation due to 'personal reasons' but did not elaborate further about why she resigned other than to say that she 'was unable to handle the responsibilities of the job.'"</ref> In April 2021, Matthew Adams was selected to fill Dahiya-Shah's seat, after she stepped down from office in March, citing "personal reasons".<ref>Staff. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/scotch-plains-slash-fanwood/sections/government/articles/scotch-plains-welcomes-new-councilman-matt-adams "Scotch Plains Welcomes New Councilman Matt Adams"], TAP into Scotch Plains / Fanwood, April 26, 2021. Accessed April 11, 2022. "Following the recommendation of the Scotch Plains Democratic Committee, the Township Council welcomed Matthew S. Adams to fill the unexpired term on the Township Council that became vacant when Josh Losardo became mayor and his initial replacement pick Suman Dahiya-Shah resigned."</ref> Adams served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Union2021>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/111504/web.278093/#/summary General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref> The Chief of Police is Jeffrey Briel. The Deputy Police Chief is Al Sellinger.<ref>[https://police.scotchplainsnj.gov/index.php/about-us/history Dept About Us page], Scotch Plains Police Department. Accessed June 11, 2023</ref> ===Federal, state and county representation=== Scotch Plains is split between the 7th and 12th Congressional Districts<ref name=PCR2022>[https://www.njredistrictingcommission.org/documents/2021/Data2021/Plan%20Components.pdf 2022 Redistricting Plan], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 8, 2022.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 22nd state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>[https://pub.njleg.gov/publications/pdf/2023-NJ-Leg-District-Map.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref> Prior to the 2010 Census, all of Scotch Plains had been part of the 7th Congressional District, a change made by the [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]] that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.<ref name=LWV2011>[http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=64 ''2011 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604153059/http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=64 |date=June 4, 2013 }}, p. 64, New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref> The redistricting plan that went into effect in 2013 put 1,091 residents from the extreme northernmost portion of the township into the 7th District, with the remaining 22,419 put into the 12th District.<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/2012-nj-scotch-plains.pdf New Jersey Congressional Districts 2012-2012: Scotch Plains Map], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> {{NJ Congress 12}} {{NJ Congress 07}} {{NJ Senate}} {{NJ Legislative 22}} {{NJ Union County Commissioners}} ===Politics=== As of March 2011, there were a total of 15,979 registered voters in Scotch Plains Township, of which 5,061 (31.7% vs. 41.8% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 3,562 (22.3% vs. 15.3%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 7,346 (46.0% vs. 42.9%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 10 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-union-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary β Union], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 68.0% (vs. 53.3% in Union County) were registered to vote, including 91.7% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 70.6% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 β State β County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> {{PresHead|place=Scotch Plains|source=<ref>{{Cite web |title=NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=nj.gov}}</ref>}} <!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} --> {{PresRow|2024|Democratic|5,403|9,031|251|New Jersey}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|5,219|9,726|181|New Jersey}} {{PresRow|2016|Democratic|4,889|7,717|494|New Jersey}} {{PresRow|2012|Democratic|5,394|6,801|135|New Jersey}} {{PresRow|2008|Democratic|5,603|7,094|109|New Jersey}} {{PresRow|2004|Democratic|5,757|6,134|83|New Jersey}} |} In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 6,801 votes (54.8% vs. 66.0% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 5,394 votes (43.5% vs. 32.3%) and other candidates with 135 votes (1.1% vs. 0.8%), among the 12,407 ballots cast by the township's 16,820 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.8% (vs. 68.8% in Union County).<ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-union.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results β Union County] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201192205/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-union.pdf |date=February 1, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-union.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results β Union County] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201191259/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-union.pdf |date=February 1, 2014 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 7,094 votes (55.0% vs. 63.1% countywide), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 5,603 votes (43.5% vs. 35.2%) and other candidates with 109 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 12,894 ballots cast by the township's 16,359 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.8% (vs. 74.7% in Union County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-union.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Union County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 6,134 votes (51.0% vs. 58.3% countywide), ahead of Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 5,757 votes (47.9% vs. 40.3%) and other candidates with 83 votes (0.7% vs. 0.7%), among the 12,018 ballots cast by the township's 15,361 registered voters, for a turnout of 78.2% (vs. 72.3% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_union_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Union County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2017|2017 gubernatorial election]], Democrat [[Phil Murphy]] received 4,331 votes (58.6% vs. 65.2% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Kim Guadagno]] with 2,902 votes (39.2% vs. 32.6%), and other candidates with 162 votes (2.2% vs. 2.1%), among the 7,458 ballots cast by the township's 17,609 registered voters, for a turnout of 42.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-general-election-results-governor-union.pdf |title=Governor - Union County |date=December 21, 2017 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=November 23, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2017/2017-gen-elect-ballotscast-results-union.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 7, 2017 - General Election Results - Union County|date=December 21, 2017 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=November 23, 2024}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 60.8% of the vote (4,504 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 37.8% (2,804 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (105 votes), among the 7,532 ballots cast by the township's 16,527 registered voters (119 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.6%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-union.pdf |title=Governor β Union County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-union.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast β November 5, 2013 β General Election Results β Union County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 4,381 votes (50.8% vs. 41.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 3,480 votes (40.4% vs. 50.6%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 633 votes (7.3% vs. 5.9%) and other candidates with 68 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,619 ballots cast by the township's 16,122 registered voters, yielding a 53.5% turnout (vs. 46.5% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-union.pdf 2009 Governor: Union County] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017230050/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-union.pdf |date=October 17, 2012 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed May 22, 2013.</ref>
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