Editing Woodstown, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
[[File:WoodstownNJboroughhall.jpg|thumb|left|Borough hall]]
Woodstown 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. The mayor is elected [[direct election|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. 19.</ref> The borough form of government used by Woodstown 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=September 24, 2014 }}, [[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|2025}}, the [[Mayor]] of the Borough of Woodstown is ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]] Joseph H. Hiles, whose term of office ends December 31, 2027. Members of the Woodstown Borough Council are Council President Glenn Merkle (R, 2027), Heather Bobbitt (R, 2026), Jim Hackett (R, 2026), Bertha Hyman (R, 2025), Jesse Stemberger (D, 2027) and Noah Tighe (R, 2025; elected to serve an unexpired term).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://historicwoodstown.org/index.asp?SEC=7CD184C8-7ECF-4C58-8BB6-032D24C7E6E9&Type=B_BASIC Mayor and Council Members], Woodstown Borough. Accessed December 18, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://historicwoodstown.org/vertical/sites/%7BE7F6D332-DC61-417D-8E31-6054B23067AE%7D/uploads/2024_Certified_Adopted_Budget.pdf#page=13 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Woodstown Borough. Accessed December 18, 2024.</ref><ref name=Salem2023>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ESR_Optimized.pdf Election Summary Report General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results], [[Salem County, New Jersey]], updated November 21, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Salem2022>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/2022-General-Election-Summary-1-min.pdf November 8, 2022 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results], [[Salem County, New Jersey]] Clerk. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Salem2021>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/OFFICIAL-General-Election-Results-Salem-County-2021-min.pdf Election Summary Report General Election Salem County November 2, 2021 Official Results Report], [[Salem County, New Jersey]], updated November 15, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In March 2015, the borough council selected Debbie Tierno from among three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Fran Grenier who had resigned the previous month.<ref>Wehner, Brittany M. [http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2015/03/woodstown_officials_appoint_new_councilwoman_to_fi.html "Woodstown officials appoint new councilwoman to fill vacant seat"], [[NJ.com]], March 11, 2015. Accessed June 20, 2015. "Woodstown Borough Council unanimously approved a new council member Tuesday night to fill the recently vacated seat. Republican Debbie Tierno was appointed councilwoman to take over a vacant seat after Councilman Fran Grenier resigned last month."</ref>

Matt Perry was selected by the borough council in December 2013 from among three candidates offered by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat of Veronica Soultz who resigned from office the previous month after moving out of the borough.<ref>Staff. [http://jerseytribune.com/2013/12/02/councilman-matt-perry-sworn-in-to-fill-the-remainder-of-former-councilwomans-term/ "Councilman Matt Perry sworn in to fill the remainder of former councilwoman's term"], Jersey Tribune, December 2, 2013. Accessed September 21, 2014. "Following the resignation of councilwoman Veronica Soultz, borough officials swore in the new councilman at the recent meeting. Matt Perry was sworn in last Tuesday to finish Soultz's term."</ref><ref>Wehner, Brittany M. [http://www.nj.com/salem/index.ssf/2013/11/councilwoman_soultz_resigns_woodstown_borough_officials_approve_replacement.html "Woodstown Councilwoman resigns, officials approve replacement"], ''[[South Jersey Times]]'', November 19, 2013. Accessed September 21, 2014. "Republican Veronica Soultz, formerly of Woodstown, stepped down at the last council meeting for personal reasons, she said.... Three potential Republican replacement candidates were named including John Hathaway, Matt Perry, and former councilman and mayor Rick Pfeffer. Borough council unanimously approved Matt Perry to fill the vacancy, with the exception of Soultz, who abstained from the vote."</ref>