Editing Sparta, New Jersey (section)

== Government ==

=== Local government ===
Sparta is governed within the [[Faulkner Act]], formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the [[Faulkner Act (council–manager)|Council-Manager]] (Plan B) form of municipal government, implemented based on the recommendations of a [[Charter Study Commission]] as of July 1, 1960.<ref>[http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf "The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law"], [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], July 2007. Accessed November 5, 2013.</ref> The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide governed under this form.<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 a five-member Township Council whose members are elected [[at-large]] on a [[non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] basis for staggered four-year terms of office, with either two or three seats coming up for election in even-numbered years as part of the November general election.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 110.</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> The council chooses a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among themselves to serve one-year terms of office. The Township Council has the responsibility for all legislative matters.

The Council's responsibilities include enacting ordinances and resolutions, establishing policies, preparing the annual budget with the assistance of the Township Manager and the Treasurer, and levying taxes. Additionally, the Council makes appointments to both the policy and decision-making boards and various advisory committees in accordance with general law and Township ordinances and resolutions.

The council voted to shift its municipal elections from May to November, and voters approved a 2011 referendum that ended a requirement that a runoff election be held in June in the event that no candidate received a majority of votes in the May council election. The first election in which the candidates receiving the most votes won office was held in November 2012.<ref>Hardy, Fran. [http://www.spartaindependent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120905/NEWS01/120909994/0/SPORTS/Five-candidates-submit-petitions-for-council-seats "Five candidates submit petitions for council seats; Both municipal and board of ed candidates will share November ballot"], ''The Sparta Independent'', September 5, 2012. Accessed February 25, 2013. "Sparta's last municipal election was in May of 2010, and subsequently the council joined the majority of Faulkner Act municipalities by voting to change their election date to November. Another change in this year's municipal vote is the elimination of the run-off election, which factored heavily in deciding the two previous council elections. In a special question which was included on the November 2011 ballot, Sparta voters opted to do away the run-off, which was held if no candidate received 50 percent plus one vote."</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, members of the Sparta Township Council are [[Mayor]] Neill Clark (term on the council ends December 31, 2026; term as mayor ends 2024), Deputy Mayor Dean Blumetti (term on council ends 2026; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Daniel Chiariello (2026), Josh Hertzberg (2024) and Christine Quinn (2024).<ref name=TownshipCouncil>[https://spartanj.org/224/Sparta-Township-Council Township Council], Sparta Township. Accessed May 20, 2024. "Sparta Township is governed by a nonpartisan form of government known as Council-Manager Plan B of the Faulkner Act. The five-member Council is elected at large for four-year terms of office on a staggered basis with two or three seats coming up for election every other year. The council chooses a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among themselves to serve one-year terms of office."</ref><ref>[https://spartanj.org/DocumentCenter/View/1526/Introduced-Budget_2024_1 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Sparta Township. Accessed May 20, 2024.</ref><ref name=Sussex2022>[https://sussexcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/NOV-8-2022-GE-Official-County-Summary.pdf Sussex County, New Jersey General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results Summary Report], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]], dated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Sussex2020>[https://sussexcountyclerk.org/docs/elections/2020/General/Official/Amended-SUMMARY.html Election Summary November 3, 2020 General Election Official Amended Results], [[Sussex County, New Jersey]], updated December 10, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In 2018, the township had an average property tax bill of $12,044, the highest in the county, compared to an average bill of $8,767 statewide.<ref>[https://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dlgs/resources/property_docs/18_data/18taxes.xls 2018 Property Tax Information], [[New Jersey Department of Community Affairs]], updated January 16, 2019. Accessed November 7, 2019.</ref><ref>Marcus, Samantha. [https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/04/these-are-the-towns-with-the-highest-property-taxes-in-each-of-njs-21-counties.html "These are the towns with the highest property taxes in each of N.J.’s 21 counties"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], April 22, 2019. Accessed November 5, 2019. "The average property tax bill in New Jersey was $8,767 last year. But there can be big swings from town to town and county to county.... The average property tax bill in Sparta Township was $12,044 in 2018, the highest in Sussex County."</ref>

=== Federal, state, and county representation ===
Sparta Township is located in the 7th Congressional District<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 24th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#24 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

Prior to the 2010 Census, Sparta Township had been split between the {{ushr|NJ|5|5th Congressional District}} and the 11th 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>

{{NJ Congress 07}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 24}}

{{NJ Sussex County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 13,647 registered voters in Sparta Township, of which 2,393 (17.5% vs. 16.5% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 4,854 (35.6% vs. 39.3%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 6,387 (46.8% vs. 44.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 13 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-sussex-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Sussex], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.2% (vs. 65.8% in Sussex County) were registered to vote, including 97.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 86.5% 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 - State -- 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 February 25, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 6,370 votes (61.6% vs. 59.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 3,747 votes (36.3% vs. 38.2%) and other candidates with 188 votes (1.8% vs. 2.1%), among the 10,335 ballots cast by the township's 14,177 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.9% (vs. 68.3% in Sussex County).<ref>[http://www.sussexcountyclerk.com/election_results/General%20Election%20Results/Amended-2GNJSUSS-District-Detailed.html General Election November 6, 2012: District Report - Group Detail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606114607/http://www.sussexcountyclerk.com/election_results/General%20Election%20Results/Amended-2GNJSUSS-District-Detailed.html |date=June 6, 2013 }}, [[Sussex County, New Jersey]] Clerk, run date November 30, 2012. Accessed February 26, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 6,462 votes (59.9% vs. 59.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 4,171 votes (38.7% vs. 38.7%) and other candidates with 103 votes (1.0% vs. 1.5%), among the 10,781 ballots cast by the township's 13,490 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.9% (vs. 76.9% in Sussex County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-sussex.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Sussex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 6,622 votes (65.8% vs. 63.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 3,311 votes (32.9% vs. 34.4%) and other candidates with 102 votes (1.0% vs. 1.3%), among the 10,070 ballots cast by the township's 12,537 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.3% (vs. 77.7% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_sussex_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Sussex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Sparta|source=<br>2024<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-sussex.pdf Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Sussex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2020<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-sussex.pdf Presidential November 3, 2020 General Election Results Sussex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 18, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2016<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-sussex.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Sussex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 14, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2015.</ref> 2012<ref>[http://www.sussexcountyclerk.com/election_results/General%20Election%20Results/Amended-2GNJSUSS-District-Detailed.html General Election November 6, 2012: District Report - Group Detail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606114607/http://www.sussexcountyclerk.com/election_results/General%20Election%20Results/Amended-2GNJSUSS-District-Detailed.html |date=June 6, 2013 }}, [[Sussex County, New Jersey]] Clerk, run date November 30, 2012. Accessed February 20, 2013.</ref> 2008<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-sussex.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Sussex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed February 17, 2013.</ref> 2004<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_sussex_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Sussex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed February 17, 2013.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,939|5,192|237|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,884|5,716|231|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,325|4,061|410|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,370|3,747|188|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|6,462|4,171|103|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,622|3,311|102|New Jersey}}
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 72.8% of the vote (4,431 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 24.6% (1,496 votes), and other candidates with 2.6% (159 votes), among the 6,140 ballots cast by the township's 14,360 registered voters (54 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.8%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-sussex.pdf |title=Governor - Sussex 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-sussex.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Sussex 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 4,694 votes (65.2% vs. 63.3% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 1,844 votes (25.6% vs. 25.7%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 593 votes (8.2% vs. 9.1%) and other candidates with 37 votes (0.5% vs. 1.3%), among the 7,202 ballots cast by the township's 13,308 registered voters, yielding a 54.1% turnout (vs. 52.3% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-sussex.pdf 2009 Governor: Sussex County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606051254/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-sussex.pdf |date=June 6, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed February 25, 2013.</ref>