Editing Berlin Township, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
In 1973, Berlin Township changed its form of government from the [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]] form to a [[Faulkner Act]] [[Faulkner Act (small municipality)|Small Municipality]] form, and now operates under plan 3 of the Small Municipality form, as implemented on January 1, 1988, by direct petition.<ref>[http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf "The Faulkner Act: New Jersey's Optional Municipal Charter Law"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012040522/http://www.dudley-2010.com/Faulkner%20Act%2046pages.pdf |date=October 12, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]], July 2007. Accessed October 7, 2013.</ref> The township is one of 18 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government, which is available only to municipalities with fewer than 12,000 residents at the time of adoption.<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 four Council members and the Mayor, all elected [[at-large]]. The mayor serves a four-year term of office and the councilmembers serve a three-year term, with two council seats coming up for election each year for two years and no council seats up for vote in the third year of the cycle. The candidates run in partisan elections at regular primary and are elected at the November general election. Independent candidates, having declared their intentions at primary time, run only in the 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. 33.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=14 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 14. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref><ref>[http://ecode360.com/27178032 Township Code Article II: Governing Body], Berlin Township. Accessed December 12, 2014. "§ 3-11 Composition. The governing body of the Township of Berlin shall be composed of the Mayor and four members of Council. § 3-12 Term of Mayor. The term of the Mayor of the Township shall be set at four years, beginning with the election of November 2005. § 3-13 Term of Council members. Each Council member shall continue to be elected for a term of three years."</ref>

This type of government is a [[strong mayor]] form in which the Mayor, as chief executive, is responsible for all administrative functions. The Mayor presides at Council meetings, voting and participating as a member of Council. The Mayor appoints, with Council's approval, the following: Tax Assessor, Tax Collector, Clerk, Treasurer, Zoning Officer, Construction Official, Court Administrator, Attorney and Engineer. The Mayor is responsible for the budget; enforcing the charter (State law) and all ordinances (local laws), and the preparation of an annual report for the Council and residents. The Council has [[legislative]] and policy-making power. It elects a Council President annually to preside in the Mayor's absence. The Mayor appoints Council members to serve as liaisons to the Recreation Committee, Finance Committee, Athletic Association, Public Works, Special Events, School Board, Public Safety and Senior Citizens. The Mayor and one council member are members of the Planning and Zoning Board.<ref>Cerra, Michael F. [http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html "Forms of Government; Everything You've Always Wanted to Know, But Were Afraid to Ask"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045019/http://www.njslom.org/magart0307_p14.html |date=2014-09-24 }}, [[New Jersey State League of Municipalities]]. Accessed December 12, 2014.</ref>

{{As of|2024}}, the [[Mayor]] of Berlin Township is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Phyllis A. Jeffries Magazzu, whose term of office ends December 31, 2025. Members of the Township Council are Council President Marion Bodanza (D, 2025), Frank Epifanio (D, 2024), Francis McHenry (D, 2025) and Mark Reid (D, 2024).<ref name=MayorandCouncil>[https://berlintwp.com/mayor-council/ Mayor and Council], Berlin Township. Accessed April 20, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://berlintwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-Introduced-Budget.pdf 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Berlin Township. Accessed April 20, 2024.</ref><ref name=Camden2022>[https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/elections/general2022/2022-General-Election-Canvasser.pdf Official Election Results 2022 General Election November 8, 2022], Camden County, New Jersey, as of November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Camden2021>[https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/elections/general2021/2021-General-Election-Canvasser.pdf 2021 General Election November 2, 2021 Official Election Results], [[Camden County, New Jersey]], update November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Camden2020>[https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/elections/general2020/2020-General-Election-Canvasser.pdf 2020 General Election November 3, 2020 Official Election Results], [[Camden County, New Jersey]], update November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In February 2022, the Township Council selected Francis McHenry from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Christopher Morris until he resigned from office earlier that month.<ref>[https://berlintwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-14-2022.pdf Township Council Meeting Minutes for February 14, 2022], Township of Berlin. Accessed May 24, 2022. "Letter of Resignation from Council President Christopher Morris. As required by N.J.S.A.40A:16-5 that the appropriate political party of the member vacancy will nominate three candidates to the governing body. As such the Democratic Committee of Berlin Township has conferred and is hereby submitting the following names for consideration by the Governing Body to replace Council President Christopher Morris. 1-Jeanne Rodriguez 2- Lou DeMarco 3- Frank McHenry. Motion by Mayor Magazzu second by Councilwoman Bodanza to appoint Frank McHenry as Councilman for the Township of Berlin."</ref>

In November 2019, Samuel D. Sykes was elected to fill a vacant seat on the Township Council expiring In December 2021. that had been held by Jerome McIntosh until his death in July 2019.<ref name=Camden2019>[https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/elections/general2019/results/2019-General-Election-Canvasser.pdf Official Election Results 2019 General Election November 5, 2019], [[Camden County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref><ref>[https://covingtonfuneralhomes.net/tribute/details/976/Jerome-McIntosh/obituary.html Obituary of Jerome McIntosh], Covington Funeral Home. Accessed March 19, 2020. "He was later appointed by the Mayor to the Berlin Township Council in 2003. This was followed by his first elected position in 2004, where he remained until his passing."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Berlin Township is located in the 1st 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 6th 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#6 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 01}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 06}}

{{NJ Camden County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 3,449 registered voters in Berlin Township, of which 1,552 (45.0% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 370 (10.7% vs. 21.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 1,524 (44.2% vs. 47.1%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 3 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-camden-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Camden], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 64.4% (vs. 57.1% in Camden County) were registered to vote, including 82.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[https://www.census.gov GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 1,502 votes (63.9% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 814 votes (34.6% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 19 votes (0.8% vs. 0.9%), among the 2,351 ballots cast by the township's 3,686 registered voters, for a turnout of 63.8% (vs. 70.4% in Camden County).<ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-camden.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Camden County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226114837/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-presidential-camden.pdf |date=December 26, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-camden.pdf Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast November 6, 2012 General Election Results - Camden County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226114745/http://njelections.org/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-camden.pdf |date=December 26, 2013 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 15, 2013. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Democrat Barack Obama received 1,519 votes (62.4% vs. 66.2% countywide), ahead of Republican [[John McCain]] with 829 votes (34.1% vs. 30.7%) and other candidates with 32 votes (1.3% vs. 1.1%), among the 2,434 ballots cast by the township's 3,478 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0% (vs. 71.4% in Camden County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-camden.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Camden County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Democrat [[John Kerry]] received 1,305 votes (56.6% vs. 61.7% countywide), ahead of Republican [[George W. Bush]] with 876 votes (38.0% vs. 36.4%) and other candidates with 23 votes (1.0% vs. 0.8%), among the 2,304 ballots cast by the township's 3,123 registered voters, for a turnout of 73.8% (vs. 71.3% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_camden_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Camden County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Berlin Township|source=<ref>{{Cite web |title=NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=nj.gov}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|1,466|1,519|47|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|1,453|1,817|45|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|1,101|1,295|70|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|814|1,502|19|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|829|1,519|32|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|876|1,305|23|New Jersey}}
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 60.0% of the vote (848 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 39.2% (554 votes), and other candidates with 0.8% (12 votes), among the 1,515 ballots cast by the township's 3,752 registered voters (101 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 40.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-camden.pdf |title=Governor - Camden 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-camden.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Camden 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]], Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] received 857 ballots cast (51.0% vs. 53.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 650 votes (38.7% vs. 38.5%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 73 votes (4.3% vs. 4.5%) and other candidates with 29 votes (1.7% vs. 1.1%), among the 1,681 ballots cast by the township's 3,428 registered voters, yielding a 49.0% turnout (vs. 40.8% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-camden.pdf 2009 Governor: Camden County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017225410/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-camden.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 30, 2013.</ref>