Editing New Brunswick, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
[[File:NewBrunswickCityHall.tiff|thumb|City Hall]]
The City of New Brunswick is governed within the [[Faulkner Act]], formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]] system of municipal government. The city is one of 71 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''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601184216/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf |date=June 1, 2023 }}, [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The governing body is comprised of the Mayor and the five-member City Council, all of whom are elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis to four-year terms of office in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. The City Council's five members are elected on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election every other year and the mayor up for election at the same time that two council seats are up for vote. As the legislative body of New Brunswick's municipal government, the City Council is responsible for approving the annual budget, ordinances and resolutions, contracts, and appointments to boards and commissions. The Council President is elected to a two-year term by the members of the Council at a reorganization meeting held after election and presides over all meetings.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 81.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604040836/https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=10 |date=June 4, 2023 }}, p. 10. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/government/city_council/index.php City Council], City of New Brunswick. Accessed December 12, 2019. "The City Council has seven members elected at large. The Council President is elected to a 2-year term by the Council and presides over all meetings."</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] James Cahill is the 62nd [[List of mayors of New Brunswick, New Jersey|mayor of New Brunswick]]; he was sworn in as mayor on January 1, 1991, and is serving a term that expires on December 31, 2026.<ref name=Mayor>[https://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/government/mayors_office/index.php Mayor's Office], City of New Brunswick. Accessed April 14, 2024.</ref> Members of the City Council are Council President Rebecca H. Escobar (D, 2026), Council Vice President John A. Anderson (D, 2024), Manuel J. Castañeda (D, 2024), Matthew Ferguson (D, 2026; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Glenn J. Fleming (D, 2024), Petra N. Gaskins (D, 2026) and Suzanne M. Sicora Ludwig (D, 2024).<ref>[https://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/government/city_council/meet_the_council_members.php Meet the Council Members], City of New Brunswick. Accessed April 14, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://cms2.revize.com/revize/brunswicknj/2024%20Introduced%20Budget.pdf 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], City of New Brunswick. Accessed May 28, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Middlesex/116148/web.307039/#/summary November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2020>[https://app.powerbigov.us/view?r=eyJrIjoiODhjZDE4ZGUtZjk2Yy00MTI4LTk4ZjYtMmNkY2Q1ZTJmNjY0IiwidCI6IjhlZjNiNGU0LTBlODgtNDM4Yi1iOWE1LTEwZmVjYmQwYjcxZSJ9 Official Results of the 2020 General Election], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]]. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In January 2024, the city council appointed Matthew Ferguson to fill the seat expiring in December 2026 that had been held by [[Kevin Egan (New Jersey politician)|Kevin Egan]] until he resigned earlier that month to take a seat in the [[New Jersey General Assembly]]. Ferguson will serve on an interim basis until the November general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref>[https://www.cityofnewbrunswick.org/news_detail_T10_R1221.php "Matthew Ferguson Selected to Fill Vacant City Council Seat"], City of New Brunswick, January 26, 2024. Accessed April 14, 2024. "Matthew Ferguson was appointed to the City Council on January 17 by a 6-0 vote to fill the unexpired term of Kevin Egan, who resigned to take a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 17th District.... Ferguson will have to run in the June primary and the November general election to secure his seat going forward."</ref>

In January 2023, the City Council expanded from five to seven members. Gaskins was sworn in as the first black woman and youngest in history, and Castañeda was elected as the first Latino man.<ref>O'Donnell, Chuck. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/new-brunswick/sections/government/articles/new-brunswick-trailblazers-gaskins-castaneda-eager-to-join-city-council "New Brunswick Trailblazers Gaskins, Castaneda Eager to Join City Council"], [[TAPinto]] New Brunswick, November 13, 2022. Accessed April 14, 2024. "Gaskins is the first Black woman to be elected to the City Council. At 29, she is also believed to be the youngest person. And, Castaneda is the first Latino man to be elected to the City Council, and just the third Latino overall. They are eager to bring their unique perspectives and experiences to the city’s governing body when they start their terms in January as the City Council expands from five to seven members."</ref>