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===Local government=== [[File:Wrightstown, NJ borough hall, Aug. 2024.jpg|thumb|right|Wrightstown Borough Hall]] Wrightstown 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. 43.</ref> The borough form of government used by Wrightstown 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>[http://wrightstownborough.com/index.php/government Government], Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed October 26, 2019. "In a borough government, a mayor and six council members are elected at-large. A mayor serves a 4 year term, and council members serve staggering 3 year terms, where at the end of every year, 2 seats being contested each year."</ref><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><ref>[https://wrightstownborough.com/index.php/government Government], Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed April 25, 2023. "Our Borough government is one of 5 types of governments in NJ. In a borough government, a mayor and six council members are elected at-large. A mayor serves a 4 year term, and council members serve staggering 3 year terms, where at the end of every year, 2 seats being contested each year."</ref> {{As of|2023}}, the mayor of Wrightstown is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Donald Cottrell, who was elected to serve a term of office ending December 31, 2024. Members of the Wrightstown Borough Council are Council President William L. Bird Jr. (R, 2023), Jason Bushnell ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]], 2024; elected to serve an unexpired term), Donna L. Carroll (R, 2025), Joseph Craig (R, 2023; elected to serve an unexpired term), Jeanie L. Knapp (R, 2025) and Laurance R. Lownds (D, 2024), with one seat vacant.<ref name=GoverningBody>[http://wrightstownborough.com/index.php/governing-body Mayor & Council], Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed April 25, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ud-618k9BDz2qET5TQ1O7YlW4i2Q65CA 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Wrightstown, New Jersey. Accessed July 25, 2022.</ref><ref name=Burlington2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Burlington/116176/web.307039/#/summary November 8, 2022 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results], [[Burlington County, New Jersey]], updated November 29, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Burlington2021>[https://press.co.burlington.nj.us/PRESS/ElectionArchive//2021/General//2021_G_OFFICIAL_Summary.pdf November 2, 2021 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results], [[Burlington County, New Jersey]], updated November 18, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Burlington2020>[https://press.co.burlington.nj.us/PRESS/ElectionArchive//2020//2020_GEN_Official_Summary_Report.pdf November 3, 2020 Summary Report Burlington County Official Results], [[Burlington County, New Jersey]], updated November 23, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref> After David Scott Timberman resigned from office in November 2021, the borough council selected Donald Cottrell from a list of three candidates to fill the seat expiring in December 2024.<ref>[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eBHGZm-OQ45PM9oUQKZIc7wr-wNMgqRc Borough Council Meeting Minutes of November 10, 2021], Wrightstown Borough. Accessed July 25, 2022. "Acceptance Of Mayor David Scott Timberman’s Letter Of Resignation Dated November 1, 2021... Acting Mayor Cottrell read a letter from the Municipal Republican Committee putting forth three candidates’ names to fill the vacant seat of former Mayor Timberman: Donald Cottrell, William Bird, and Keith Conticelli.... A motion to appoint Mr. Cottrell as Mayor effective November 23, 2021 was made by Mr. Craig. Second by Mr. Lownds.... Motion Carried"</ref> In September 2019, the [[New Jersey State Comptroller]] referred a case involving Mayor Thomas Harper to the [[New Jersey Attorney General]] for possible criminal charges; it was alleged that the mayor had allowed a private company to dump {{convert|565000|gal}} of untreated septic tank waste into facilities operated by the borough's municipal utilities authority without the company having paid any fees.<ref>[https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/news/20190919/state-refers-case-to-ag-wrightstown-mayor-had-secret-mua-deal "State refers case to AG: Wrightstown mayor had secret MUA deal"], ''[[Burlington County Times]]'', September 19, 2019. Accessed October 27, 2019. "Over the course of three years, Mayor Thomas Harper allowed a private septage company to bypass thousands of dollars of disposal fees and dump 565,000 gallons of untested, unfiltered waste directly into a municipal utilities authority manhole, according to an investigation by the Office of the State Comptroller."</ref> In September 2020, Mayor Harper was charged by the Attorney General's Office of Public Integrity and Accountability with lying to investigators, after he allegedly knowingly made false statements during the course of the Office of the Comptroller's investigation. Harper resigned from office later that month, but his named remained as the only candidate for mayor listed on the ballot in the November 2020 general election.<ref>Woolston, George. [https://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/story/news/2020/10/29/ex-wrightstown-mayor-barred-public-office-only-candidate-ballot/6061968002/ "Ex-Wrightstown mayor barred from public office only candidate on ballot. Can he win?"], ''[[Burlington County Times]]'', October 29, 2020. Accessed July 25, 2022. "Former Borough Mayor Thomas Harper was running unopposed for re-election when he was charged with lying to investigators in early September. As a result of the charges, Harper is permanently banned from holding public office. He resigned as mayor and chair of the Wrightstown Municipal Utilities Authority on Sept. 23, the same day he was handed down the order banning him from a public position."</ref> In July 2012, following the death of Brian Sperling in the previous month, the borough council selected William Bird to fill Sperling's vacancy on the council and picked Costic Michael Borsavage to take over his role as council president.<ref>Zimmaro, Mark. [http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/wrightstown-council-fills-vacancies/article_49d033b3-7f4d-5651-9613-0a9bb95847d9.html 'Wrightstown council fills vacancies"], ''[[Burlington County Times]]'', July 13, 2012. Accessed December 2, 2013. "The Borough Council filled a vacant seat and appointed a new president after the recent death of Brian Sperling.Sperling, who was council president at the time of his death, was one of the longest-serving elected officials in Burlington County history.... On Wednesday, the five remaining council members unanimously appointed William Bird to fill Sperling's seat.... Costic Michael Borsavage was sworn in as council president Wednesday night after a unanimous vote."</ref> Jennifer Heisler, a councilmember who resigned in October 2010, was sentenced in November 2011 to five years of probation after pleading guilty to the theft of $20,000 from Wrightstown Volunteer Fire Company, of which she had been the treasurer.<ref>Camilli, Danielle. [http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/crime/former-wrightstown-councilwoman-sentenced-for-theft-from-fire-company/article_acf3cafd-96fc-55c3-afa5-f9230bfd2e23.html "Former Wrightstown councilwoman sentenced for theft from fire company"], ''[[Burlington County Times]]'', November 20, 2011. Accessed December 2, 2013. "A former Wrightstown councilwoman was ordered to serve five years on probation and pay more than $20,000 in restitution for stealing money from the borough's volunteer fire company.... Heisler, formerly Jennifer Schwager, served on the Borough Council from January 2006 until her resignation in October 2010. Council members at the time said she left office after giving birth and no longer had time to devote to the community."</ref>
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