Editing Milford, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Milford is governed under the [[Borough (New Jersey)|borough]] form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 218 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the most commonly used form of government in the state.<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, who are 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. 103.</ref> The borough form of government used by Milford 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|2023}}, the [[mayor]] of Milford Borough is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Henry Schepens, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Borough Council are Noralie LaFevre (R, 2025), James Gallos (R, 2024; appointed to serve an unexpired term), Ronald R. Rehl (R, 2025), Robert E. White ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 2023) and Elisa Yager (R, 2024), with one seat vacant.<ref name=Directory>[https://www.milfordnj.gov/milford-elected-officials Elected Borough Officials], Milford Borough. Accessed May 5, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://www.milfordnj.gov/_files/ugd/1a7eb3_aebbdb277e0a4795863ebeb2567c5cb3.pdf#page=16 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Milford Borough. Accessed May 5, 2023.</ref><ref name=HunterdonPage>[https://co.hunterdon.nj.us/922/Milford-Borough Borough of Milford], [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey]]. Accessed May 5, 2023.</ref><ref name=HunterdonDirectory>[https://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/5487/2022-Hunterdon-County-and-Municipal-Officials-Directory-PDF#page=83 ''2022 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey]]. Accessed May 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Hunterdon2022>[https://co.hunterdon.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/9118/G2022-Official-SOV-PDF Hunterdon County District Canvass November 8, 2022, General Election], [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey]], updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Hunterdon2021>[https://co.hunterdon.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/6226/2021-General-Election-Official-Results-by-Municipality-PDF November 2, 2021 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results], [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey]], updated November 12, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Hunterdon2020>[https://co.hunterdon.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/8592/2020-Official-General-Election-Results-Municipality-PDF November 3, 2020 District Report Hunterdon County Official Results], [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey]], updated November 20, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Hunterdon2019>[https://co.hunterdon.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/8589/2019-Official-General-Election-Results-PDF Hunterdon County District Canvass November 5, 2019, General Election], [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey]], updated November 14, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In February 2023, Russell Heller was shot and killed at a [[PSE&G]] facility by a former employee, leaving his seat expiring in December 2023 vacant.<ref>[https://abc7ny.com/russell-heller-nj-councilman-shot-shooting-pseg/12790080/ "PSE&G supervisor killed by former employee was New Jersey councilman"], [[WABC-TV]], February 9, 2023. Accessed February 9, 2023. "The PSE&G supervisor gunned down by an employee at work was a Milford Councilman in Hunterdon County, officials announced.... Police called to the scene found 51-year-old Senior Distribution Supervisor Russell Heller dead from a gunshot wound in the parking lot outside the facility."</ref>

In November 2018, Henry Schepens was elected to serve the balance of the term as mayor expiring in December 2019 that had been held by Ronald R. Rehl.<ref name=Hunterdon2018>[https://www.co.hunterdon.nj.us/election/2018/General/SOV%20G2018.pdf District Canvass November 6, 2018 Official Results], [[Hunterdon County, New Jersey]], updated November 14, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.</ref>

In January 2016, the Common Council selected Carole Heller to fill the seat expiring in December 2017 that became vacant after Ronald Rehl stepped down to be sworn in as mayor.<ref>[http://www.milford-nj.us/publish/milford/minutes/2016/minutes-2016/index.html#22 Milford Borough Common Council Regular Meeting Minutes January 19, 2016] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819223700/http://www.milford-nj.us/publish/milford/minutes/2016/minutes-2016/index.html#22 |date=August 19, 2016 }}, Borough of Milford. Accessed July 10, 2016. Accessed July 10, 2016. "Fill Council Vacancy – Letter from Donald Pursell: Noralie LaFevre made a motion to appoint Carole Heller to fill Councilman Rehl's Council vacancy seat. Seconded by Henry Schepens. Roll Call Vote: Ayes: N. LaFevre, H. Schepens, G. Sniffin, R. White, E. Yager Nays: None; Abstain: None; Absent: None; Motion approved."</ref>