Editing Lake Como, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
Lake Como is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] form of New Jersey municipal government, which is used in 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide, making it the most common form of government in New Jersey.<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 borough council, with all positions elected [[at-large]] on a partisan basis as part of the November general election. A mayor is elected directly by the voters to a four-year term of office. The borough council includes six members elected to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with two seats coming up for election each year in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 58.</ref> The borough form of government used by Lake Como is a "[[weak mayor]] / strong council" government in which council members act as the legislative body with the mayor presiding at meetings and voting only in the event of a tie. The mayor can [[veto]] ordinances subject to an [[veto override|override]] by a two-thirds majority vote of the council. The mayor makes committee and liaison assignments for council members, and most appointments are made by the mayor with the advice and consent of the council.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [https://www.njlm.org/809/3982/Forms-of-Govt-Magazine-Article "Forms of Government: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"], [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], March 2007. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=6 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 6. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2025}}, the [[mayor]] of Lake Como is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Kevin Higgins, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Borough Council are Council President Douglas E. Witte (D, 2025), Heather Albala-Doyle (D, 2027), Chris D'Antuono (D, 2027), Nicholas DeMauro (D, 2026), Hawley G. Scull (D, 2025) and Peter Ventrice (D, 2026).<ref name=Officials>[https://lakecomonj.org/home/page/12 Borough Offices Information Page], Borough of Lake Como. Accessed January 28, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://lakecomonj.org/useruploads//2024_Lake_Como_Budget_Adopted.pdf 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Lake Como. Accessed January 28, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2024>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Monmouth/122857/web.345435/#/summary November 5, 2024 General Election Official Results], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]], updated December 16, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Monmouth/119047/web.317647/#/summary November 8, 2023 General Election Official Results], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]], updated January 18, 2024. Accessed January 22, 2024.</ref><ref name=Monmouth2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Monmouth/116246/web.307039/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated December 27, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref>

In February 2021, the borough council considered three candidates whose names were submitted by the Democratic municipal committee and chose Peter Ventrice to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by David Gardner until he resigned from office the previous month.<ref>Goetz, Cathy. [https://www.tapinto.net/towns/belmar-slash-lake-como/sections/government/articles/lake-como-council-taps-peter-ventrice-as-newest-member "Lake Como Council Taps Peter Ventrice as Newest Member"], [[TAPinto]] Belmar / Lake Como, February 5, 2021. Accessed July 5, 2022. "Peter Ventrice is the newest member of Lake Como Council, taking the seat of David Gardner, who resigned last month before starting his new term. During the council's February 2 virtual meeting, Ventrice took the oath of office from Mayor Kevin Higgins after the governing body unanimously approved his appointment, which will run through the end of 2021. The Democrat is likely to seek election for the remaining two years left on the unexpired term."</ref> Ventrice served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when he was selected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Monmouth2021>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Monmouth/111499/web.278093/#/summary November 2, 2021 General Election Official Results], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]], December 13, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In September 2019, the borough council selected Nicholas DeMauro from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by John Carvelli after he resigned from office the previous month after announcing that he was moving out of Lake Como.<ref>Goetz, Cathy. [https://www.tapinto.net/articles/lake-como-council-names-nicholas-demauro-to-its-ranks "Lake Como Council Names Nicholas DeMauro to Its Ranks"], TAPinto.net, September 4, 2019. Accessed February 25, 2020. "Nicholas DeMauro has joined the Lake Como Council, replacing John Carvelli who resigned last month after moving out of the borough."</ref>

In September 2018, David Gardner was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been vacated by Kevin Higgins, who was appointed mayor the previous monthto fill the seat vacated by Brian T. Wilton.<ref>[http://lakecomonj.org/useruploads/files/09-04-18_minutes.pdf Meeting Minutes for September 4, 2018], Borough of Lake Como. Accessed February 25, 2020.</ref> Kevin Higgins and David Gardner served and were elected to their respective positions in November 2018. Kevin Higgins was elected to a full four-year term ending December 2022.<ref name=Monmouth2018>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Monmouth/100184/web/#/summary General Election November 6, 2018 Official Results], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated January 7, 2020. Accessed February 8, 2020.</ref>

In January 2017, Christopher D'Antuono was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2018 that was vacated by Michael Noonan; D'Antono will serve on an interim basis until the November 2017 general election, when voters will select a candidate to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref>Staff. [https://www.tapinto.net/articles/primary-petitions-filed-for-belmar-and-lake-como "Primary Petitions Filed for Belmar and Lake Como Council Posts"], TAP Into Belmar, April 6, 2017. Accessed May 11, 2017. "In Lake Como, Democrat incumbents Kevin Higgins and John Carvelli submitted petitions for another three-year term each, and Christopher D'Antuono, who was appointed to a council post vacated by Michael Noonan in January, is vying for that unexpired one-year term."</ref>

In January 2015, the borough council selected Hawley Scull from three names nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Patricia A. Tzibrouk expiring in December 2016.<ref>[http://lakecomonj.org/agenda/minutes2015/01-06-15 minutes.pdf Minutes of the January 6, 2015, Reorganization Meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Lake Como]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Borough of Lake Como. Accessed July 14, 2015. "Borough Clerk / Administrator Louise Merkosh read the letter from Michael Ryan, Democratic Municipal Chair recommending Ms. Hawley Scull, Dr. Joseph Gulotta and Mr. Joseph Cavaluzzi to fill the vacancy caused by Patrica Tzibrouk's resignation from the Council.... Mayor Wilton administered the Oath of Office to Councilwoman Scull and she was officially sworn in."</ref> In the November 2015 general election, Scull was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Monmouth2015>[http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Monmouth/57843/157800/Web01/en/summary.html November 3, 2015 General Election Official Results], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey]], updated January 27, 2016. Accessed July 14, 2016.</ref>

Later in January 2015, the borough council chose Michael Noonan to fill the council seat expiring December 2015 that was vacated when Brian Wilton took office as mayor.<ref>[http://lakecomonj.org/agenda/minutes2015/01-20-15 minutes.pdf Minutes of January 20, 2015, Council Meeting]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, Borough of Lake Como. Accessed July 14, 2015.</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Lake Como is located in the 4th Congressional 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> and is part of New Jersey's 30th state legislative district.<ref>[https://nj1015.com/whats-your-new-nj-legislative-district-20-moved-on-new-map/ Districts by Number for 2023-2031], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 04}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 30}}

{{NJ Monmouth County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
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As of March 2011, there were a total of 992 registered voters in Lake Como, of which 301 (30.3%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 151 (15.2%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 539 (54.3%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There was one voter registered to another party.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-monmouth-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Monmouth], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 55.8% of the vote (390 cast), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 42.2% (295 votes), and other candidates with 2.0% (14 votes), among the 706 ballots cast by the borough's 1,057 registered voters (7 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 66.8%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-monmouth.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Monmouth County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-monmouth.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Monmouth County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 57.1% of the vote (459 cast), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 39.1% (314 votes) and other candidates with 2.1% (17 votes), among the 804 ballots cast by the borough's 1,123 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.6%.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-monmouth.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Monmouth County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 52.5% of the vote (428 ballots cast), outpolling Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 45.8% (374 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (12 votes), among the 816 ballots cast by the borough's 1,156 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 70.6.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_monmouth_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Monmouth County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref>

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 64.2% of the vote (298 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 32.3% (150 votes), and other candidates with 3.4% (16 votes), among the 470 ballots cast by the borough's 1,047 registered voters (6 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 44.9%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-monmouth.pdf |title=Governor - Monmouth 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-monmouth.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Monmouth 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 49.1% of the vote (262 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 40.3% (215 votes), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 8.8% (47 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (4 votes), among the 534 ballots cast by the borough's 1,048 registered voters, yielding a 51.0% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-monmouth.pdf 2009 Governor: Monmouth County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017230351/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-monmouth.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 2, 2012.</ref>