Editing Brooklawn, New Jersey (section)

===Local representation===
Brooklawn 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 a mayor and a 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. 28.</ref> The borough form of government used by Bellmawr 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. [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 November 30, 2014.</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|2024}}, the mayor of the Borough of Brooklawn is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Jerry "Skip" Granstrom, who was appointed to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2026. Members of the Brooklawn Borough Council are Council President Colin MacAdams (D, 2026), John Clotworthy (D, 2025), Bruce Darrow (D, 2025; appointed to an unexpired term of office), Christina Houchins (D, 2026; appointed to serve an unexpired term of office), Patricia McConnell (D, 2024) and Stacey Ostrom (D, 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://brooklawn-nj.com/your-government/mayor-and-council/ Mayor & Council], Borough of Brooklawn. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://brooklawn-nj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/2024-Budget.pdf 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Brooklawn. Accessed June 2, 2024.</ref><ref name=Camden2023>[https://www.camdencounty.com/wp-content/elections/general2023/2023_General_Election_Canvasser.pdf Official Election Results 2023 General Election November 7, 2023], [[Camden County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 1, 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>

In March 2024, councilmember Jerry Granstrom was chosen to serve as mayor, filling the vacant seat expiring December 2026 that had been held by Julie McCleary.<ref>[https://brooklawn-nj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/March-2024-minutes.pdf Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for March 18, 2024], Borough of Brooklawn. Accessed June 2, 2024. "Appointment Of Mayor: The Camden County Democratic Committee presented the following three names: Jerry Granstrom, Patricia McConnell, Stacey Ostrom Nomination of Mayor: Jerry Granstrom... Swearing in of Mayor"</ref> The next month, Bruce Darrow was appointed to fill the term expiring in December 2025 that had been held by Patrick Moses until he resigned from office.<ref>[https://brooklawn-nj.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Public-meeting-April-meeting-2024.pdf Mayor and Council Meeting Minutes for April 16, 2024], Borough of Brooklawn. Accessed June 2, 2024. "Acceptance of Resignation of Council member P. Moses... Appointment of Council Member: The Camden County Democratic Committee presented the following three names: Bruce Darrow, Kevin Everhart, Christine Houchin Nomination of Council Member: Motion: Nomination for Bruce Darrow made by P. McConnell... Swearing in: Oath of Office"</ref> Christina Houchins was appointed to fill the council seat expiring in December 2026 that became vacant when Jerry Granstrom took office as mayor. Granstrom, Darrow and Houchins wiill serve on an interim basis until the November 2024 general election, when voters will select candidates to serve the balance of all three terms.

In January 2023, the borough council selected Stacey Ostrom from a list of three candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Julie McCleary until she stepped down from her seat on the council to take office as mayor.<ref>[https://brooklawn-nj.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/January-meeting-minutes.pdf Borough Council Public Meeting Minutes for January 17, 2023], Borough of Brooklawn. Accessed June 7, 2023. "Nomination for Council by the Democratic Committee are as follows: Stacey Ostrom Kim Meehan Kevin Everhart Motion to nominate Stacey Ostrom Motion made by: P. Moses 2nd: M. Mevoli Roll Call Vote: 3-0 OATH OF OFFICE – New Council Member Stacey Ostrom by Mayor McCleary"</ref>

In September 2012, Patrick MacAdams was selected by the borough council from among a list of three prospective candidates nominated by the Democratic municipal committee to fill the unexpired seat of Rickie Boulden, who had resigned from office in June 2012.<ref>Martino, Sara. [http://www.gloucestercitynews.net/clearysnotebook/2012/09/brooklawn-boro-swears-in-newcouncilman-patrick-macadamsby-sara-martinogloucester-city-newsbrooklawn-mayor-theresa-branella-ga.html "Brooklawn Boro Swears In New Councilman Patrick MacAdams"], ''Gloucester City News'', September 6, 2012. Accessed December 31, 2013. "Brooklawn Mayor Theresa Branella gave the oath of office to Patrick MacAdams as his wife, Brittany, held the Bible, during last week's Borough Council meeting.... He is replacing former Councilwoman Rickie Boulden, who had resigned in June due to personal reasons, and will be on the ballot in the November General Election for the unexpired term."</ref>