Editing Hackettstown, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Hackettstown operates under a [[mayor–council government|mayor-council]] form of government that was created by a [[Special charter (New Jersey)|special charter]] adopted by the [[New Jersey Legislature]] and approved by the voters in 1970.<ref>[https://www.hackettstown.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif646/f/uploads/hackettstown_charter_and_general_code_2018.pdf#page=420 ''Charter and General Code Ordinance''], p .420. Updated through December 31, 2018. Accessed September 1, 2020. "On September 23, 1970, an Act to provide a special charter for the Town of Hackettstown was adopted by the Legislature. This act was approved by the voters on November 3, 1970, and became effective at that time."</ref> The town is one of 11 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that operate under a special charter.<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 town's governing body is comprised of a strong mayor who serves a three-year term of office and six councilpersons who are elected at large to three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with two seats up for election each year.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 125.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=15 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 15. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The mayor is the town's chief executive officer, overseeing its day-to-day operation and presenting an annual budget. The council is the town's legislative body. The mayor attends town council meetings, but may only vote in the event of a tie. The mayor may veto ordinances passed by the council, which can be overridden with the votes of four council members.<ref>[http://www.hackettstown.net/Municipal/Administration/Organization/index.htm Town of Hackettstown Organization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813201736/http://www.hackettstown.net/Municipal/Administration/Organization/index.htm |date=August 13, 2006 }}, Town of Hackettstown. Accessed July 3, 2006.</ref>

{{As of|2022}}, the [[mayor]] of Hackettstown is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Gerald DiMaio Jr. whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Town Council are Jody Becker (R, 2024), Matthew Engelau (R, 2022), Leonard Kunz (R, 2023), James Lambo (R, 2022; elected to serve an unexpired term), Scott Sheldon (R, 2024) and Eric Tynan (R, 2023).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.hackettstown.net/mayor-town-council Mayor and Town Council], Town of Hackettstown. Accessed March 1, 2022.</ref><ref>[https://www.hackettstown.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif646/f/uploads/2022_municipal_budget.pdf#page=10 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Town of Hackettstown. Accessed July 30, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2021>[https://www.warrencountyvotes.com/home/showpublisheddocument/3284/637729175316070000 Summary Results Report 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results], Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Warren2020>[https://www.warrencountyvotes.com/home/showpublisheddocument/2484/637648299297000000 Warren County 2020 General Election November 20, 2020 Official Results], Warren County, New Jersey, updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Warren2019>[https://www.warrencountyvotes.com/home/showpublisheddocument/2470/637642013517370000 General Election November 5, 2019, Warren County Official Tally], [[Warren County, New Jersey]], updated November 12, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

James Lambo was selected from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill a vacant seat. The seat, which expired in December 2018, was vacated by William Conforti in August 2016, after his announcement that he was moving out of the municipality. Lambo served on an interim basis until the November 2016 general election during which he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref>Novak, Steve. [http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/index.ssf/2016/10/another_nj_town_dealing_with_e.html "Another Warren County town dealing with elected officials' resignations"], ''[[The Express-Times]]'', October 4, 2016. Accessed February 2, 2018. "Councilman William Conforti resigned from the municipal government Aug. 5 because he was moving out of town.... Council appointed James Lambo to fill the slot. His name is to be put on November ballot to fill the remainder of the term, which expires at the end of 2018, town Clerk/Administrator William Kuster said."</ref><ref name=Warren2016>[http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/2016_General_Official_Summary_with_Write-ins.pdf#page=22 General Election November 8, 2016, Warren County Official Tally] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209001536/http://www.co.warren.nj.us/Elections/includings/2016_General_Official_Summary_with_Write-ins.pdf#page=22 |date=December 9, 2017 }}, [[Warren County, New Jersey]], updated November 16, 2016. Accessed January 30, 2017.</ref>