Editing Jefferson Township, New Jersey (section)

== Government ==

=== Local government ===
Jefferson Township is governed under a [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]] system of municipal government under the [[Faulkner Act]]. The township is one of 71 (of the 564) municipalities statewide that use this form of government.<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 five-member Township Council. All governing body officials are elected [[at-large]] in partisan elections to serve four-year terms on a staggered basis in even-numbered years as part of the November general election, with three council seats up together for election and then two council seats and the mayoral seat coming up for election together two years later.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 116.</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"], p. 10. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref>

{{As of|2023}}, the [[Mayor]] of Jefferson Township is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Eric Wilsusen, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref name=Administration>[https://www.jeffersontownship.net/149/Administration Administration], Jefferson Township. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref> Members of the Jefferson Township Council are Council President Melissa Senatore (R, 2026), Council Vice President Jay Dunham (R, 2024), Robert Birmingham (R, 2024), Josh Kalish (R, 2026) and H. Ronald Smith (R, 2024).<ref>[https://www.jeffersontownship.net/304/Town-Council Township Council], Jefferson Township. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://ecode360.com/JE0145/document/717472426.pdf 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Jefferson Township. Accessed April 26, 2023.</ref><ref name=MorrisManual>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/v/3/manual/mc-manual-2024-web-040924.pdf#page=37 ''Morris County Manual 2024''], [[Morris County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=MorrisOfficials>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/v/9/elections/2024-municipal-elected-officials-032224.pdf ''Morris County Municipal Elected Officials For The Year 2024''], [[Morris County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated March 20, 2024. Accessed May 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Morris2022>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/elections/past-results/2022-general-municipality-report-official.pdf General Election November 8, 2022, Official Results], [[Morris County, New Jersey]], updated November 28, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Morris2021>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/elections/past-results/2021-general-winners-121421.pdf General Election Winners For November 2, 2021], [[Morris County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Morris2020>[https://www.morriscountyclerk.org/files/sharedassets/clerk/elections/past-results/2020-general-summary-report-official.pdf General Election 2020 November 3, 2020 Summary Report Official Results], [[Morris County, New Jersey]], updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In March 2021, Josh Kalish was selected from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the council seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Debi Merz Bennett until she stepped down from office the previous month.<ref>[https://www.jeffersontownship.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_03242021-351 Meeting Minutes for March 24, 2021], Jefferson Township. Accessed May 1, 2022. "Mr. Kalish was announced as Council’s appointment to fill the vacancy. Council President Senatore thanked all the candidates and said everyone was very qualified and to please stay actively involved in town. 7. OATH OF OFFICE Ms. Reilly administered the Oath of Office to Mr. Kalish."</ref> Kalish served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Morris2021/><ref>[https://www.jeffersontownship.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_02242021-413 Special Meeting Minutes for February 24, 2021], Jefferson Township. Accessed May 1, 2022. "Council President Senatore said Councilwoman Bennett had an announcement to make. Councilwoman Bennett said she would like to formally let her fellow council members and the administration know that she is retiring and resigning her position. She said she has spent over thirty (30) years of her life in an elected capacity and probably three quarters of her life in volunteer positions and is now moving on to another phase in her life. Councilwoman Bennett stated that her retirement would be effective as of February 28th of this month."</ref>

In May 2017, Michael J. Sanchelli resigned from his seat expiring in December 2018, after being mandated to leave office due to issues related to his state pension which require him to be out of office for 180 days.<ref>Luciano, Kelen. [http://www.thejeffersonchronicle.com/sanchelli-forced-retire-town-council-state-law/ "Sanchelli Forced to Retire From Town Council by State Law"], ''The Jefferson Chronicle'', April 24, 2017. Accessed May 8, 2017. "Town Council Vice President Michael Sanchelli resigned from office effective May 1. He was forced to resign from office after retiring from the County of Morris and the Public Employee retirement system."</ref>

In April 2016, the Township Council selected Kimberly Finnegan from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by Richard W. Yocum until his resignation.<ref>Primerano, Jane. [http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/finnegan-sworn-in-for-council-harvin-leaves-post-as-clerk-1.1555298 "Finnegan sworn in for Jefferson council, Harvin leaves post as clerk"], ''AIM Jefferson'', April 29, 2016. Accessed July 24, 2016. "She's been at countless council meetings in 22 years on the Jefferson Rescue Squad, but on Wednesday, April 20, Kim Finnegan took her place on the dais as the newest Jefferson Township Council member.... The township's Republican County Committee sent council three names as per state law and the four council members who remain after the resignation of Council President Richard Yocum and the governing body picked Finnegan who is now chief of the squad."</ref>

=== Federal, state, and county representation ===
Jefferson Township is located in the 11th 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 25th state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2023>[https://pub.njleg.gov/publications/pdf/2023-NJ-Leg-District-Map.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2023-2031 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed September 1, 2023.</ref>

Prior to the [[New Jersey Legislative Districts, 2011 apportionment|2011 reapportionment]] following the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], Jefferson Township had been in the [[New Jersey's 25th legislative district|25th state legislative district]].<ref name=LWV2011>[http://www.lwvnj.org/images/cg_2011.pdf#page=59 ''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=59 |date=2013-06-04 }}, p. 59, New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed May 22, 2015.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 11}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 25}}

{{NJ Morris County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
{{PresHead|place=Jefferson Township|source=<br>2024<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-morris.pdf Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Morris 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-morris.pdf Presidential November 3, 2020 General Election Results Morris 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-morris.pdf Presidential November 8, 2016 General Election Results Morris County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 14, 2016. Accessed January 1, 2015.</ref> 2012<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2012/2012-presidential-morris.pdf Presidential November 6, 2012 General Election Results Morris County], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated March 15, 2013. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2008<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2008/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-morris.pdf Presidential General Election Results Morris County for 2008], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 23, 2008. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref> 2004<ref>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2004/2004-presidential_morris_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election Morris County Official Results], [[New Jersey Department of State]], updated December 13, 2004. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|7,604|4,398|190|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7,443|5,117|200|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,364|3,716|386|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,370|3,757|94|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|6,040|4,335|121|New Jersey}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,946|3,542|97|New Jersey}}
|}

As of March 2011, there were a total of 13,142 registered voters in Jefferson Township, of which 2,395 (18.2%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 4,347 (33.1%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 6,392 (48.6%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 8 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-morris-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Morris], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed December 18, 2012.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 58.2% of the vote (5,370 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 40.7% (3,757 votes), and other candidates with 1.0% (94 votes), among the 9,279 ballots cast by the township's 13,742 registered voters (58 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 67.5%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-morris.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Morris 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-morris.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Morris 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]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 57.2% of the vote (6,040 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 41.0% (4,335 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (121 votes), among the 10,564 ballots cast by the township's 13,631 registered voters, for a turnout of 77.5%.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-morris.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Morris County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed December 18, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 61.9% of the vote (5,946 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 36.9% (3,542 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (97 votes), among the 9,605 ballots cast by the township's 12,847 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 74.8.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_morris_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Morris County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed December 18, 2012.</ref>

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 70.6% of the vote (4,043 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 27.9% (1,596 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (89 votes), among the 5,789 ballots cast by the township's 13,715 registered voters (61 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.2%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-morris.pdf |title=Governor - Morris 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-morris.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Morris 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 63.4% of the vote (4,270 ballots cast), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 26.8% (1,809 votes), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 8.5% (572 votes) and other candidates with 0.8% (56 votes), among the 6,738 ballots cast by the township's 13,397 registered voters, yielding a 50.3% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-morris.pdf 2009 Governor: Morris County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017231210/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-morris.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed December 18, 2012.</ref>