Editing Somerset County, New Jersey (section)

===County government=== 
Somerset County is governed by a five-member [[Board of County Commissioners (New Jersey)|Board of County Commissioners]], whose members are elected [[at-large]] to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with one or two seats coming up for election each year. At an annual reorganization meeting held on the first Friday of January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members.<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials Elected Officials], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref> In 2016, commissioners (then known as freeholders) were paid $21,902 and the commissioner director was paid an annual salary of $22,902.<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?"], [[NJ.com]], March 11, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2017. "Freeholder director: $22,902; Other freeholders: $21,902"</ref> The Commissioners employ a full-time County Administrator who manages the day-to-day operations of the county government. The County Administrator is Colleen Mahr.<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/administrator-s-office Administrator's Office], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2021.</ref> The Clerk of the County Commissioners oversees the work of their offices. Department heads are appointed in accordance with statute and by resolution of the board. Somerset County currently has approximately 1,100 full-time and 130 part-time employees in 52 divisions (including the Library System).<ref>[http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/freeholder.html The Role of County Government] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324042546/http://www.co.somerset.nj.us/freeholder.html |date=March 24, 2008 }}, Somerset County. Accessed February 19, 2014.</ref>

{{As of|2025||df=}}, Somerset County's County Commissioners are (with terms for director and deputy director ending every December 31):<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-commissioners Board of County Commissioners], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/42490/637625577932730000 2021 County Data Sheet], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/32904/637546850633570000#page=9 ''2021 Directory of County & Municipal Offices''], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed May 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Somerset2021>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/43891/637725959984900000 2021 General Election Winning Candidates], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Somerset2020>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Somerset/107161/web.264614/#/summary Somerset County General Election November 3, 2020 Final Certified Results], Somerset County, New Jersey, dated December 3, 2020. Accessed January 19, 2021.</ref><ref name=Somerset2019>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Somerset/98879/Web02.235350/#/ General Election November 5, 2019 Final Results], Somerset County, New Jersey, updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Commissioner 
! Party, residence, term 
|-
| Director Shanel Robinson
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], [[Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey|Franklin Township]], 2027<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-commissioners/shanel-y-robinson-director Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Deputy Director Sara Sooy 
| D, [[Bernards Township, New Jersey|Bernards Township]], 2027<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-commissioners/sara-sooy-deputy-director Commissioner Sara Sooy], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Paul Drake 
| D, [[Hillsborough Township, New Jersey|Hillsborough Township]], 2026<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-commissioners/paul-drake Commissioner Paul M. Drake], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Melonie Marano 
| D, [[Green Brook Township, New Jersey|Green Brook Township]], 2025<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-commissioners/melonie-marano Commissioner Deputy Director Melonie Marano], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|- 
| Douglas Singleterry 
| D, [[North Plainfield, New Jersey|North Plainfield]], 2026<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-commissioners/douglas-singleterry Commissioner Douglas Singleterry], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|}

Democrats captured their first countywide office in 2018 since 1979, and in 2019 won a majority on the county commission for the first time since 1964. Republicans have not won a county-wide office since 2017.<ref>[https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/18-of-21-new-jersey-counties-have-one-party-control/]. Accessed September 16, 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>[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 October 26, 2017.</ref> Constitutional officers, elected on a countywide basis, are:<ref name=SomersetDirectory/>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Title
! Representative
|-
| County Clerk
| Steve Peter (D, [[Somerville, New Jersey|Somerville]], 2027)<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/county-clerk County Clerk Steve Peter], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/clerks/ Clerks], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Sheriff
| Darrin Russo (D, Franklin Township, 2025)<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/sheriff Sheriff Darrin J. Russo], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/sheriffs/ Sheriffs], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|-
| Surrogate
| Bernice "Tina" Jalloh (D, Franklin Township, 2025)<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/elected-officials/surrogate Somerset County Surrogate], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed January 30, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://coanj.com/member-list/surrogates/ Surrogates], Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey. Accessed June 17, 2022.</ref>
|}

The Somerset County Prosecutor is Michael H. Robertson of the [[Basking Ridge, New Jersey|Basking Ridge]] section of [[Bernards Township, New Jersey|Bernards Township]], who was nominated by the Governor of New Jersey [[Chris Christie]] in September 2016.<ref>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/affiliated-agencies/prosecutor-s-office Somerset County Prosecutor's Office], Somerset County, New Jersey. Accessed October 24, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://nj.gov/governor/news/news/552016/approved/20160908a.html Governor Chris Christie Files Nominations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025132227/http://nj.gov/governor/news/news/552016/approved/20160908a.html |date=October 25, 2017 }}, [[Governor of New Jersey]] [[Chris Christie]], press release dated September 8, 2016. Accessed October 24, 2017. "Somerset County Prosecutor - Nominate for appointment Michael H. Robertson (Basking Ridge, Somerset)"</ref> Somerset County is a part of Vicinage 13 of the [[New Jersey Superior Court]] (along with [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey|Hunterdon County]] and [[Warren County, New Jersey|Warren County]]), which is seated at the Somerset County Courthouse in [[Somerville, New Jersey|Somerville]]; the Assignment Judge for Vicinage 15 is Thomas C. Miller.<ref>[https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/courts/vicinages/hunsomwar.html Somerset / Hunterdon / Warren Vicinage], New Jersey Courts. Accessed October 23, 2017.</ref>