Editing Bellmawr, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Bellmawr 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 six-member 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 Bellmawr is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Charles J. "Chuck" Sauter III, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026.<ref>[https://www.bellmawr.com/197/Mayors-Message Mayor's Message], Borough of Bellmawr. Accessed April 20, 2024.</ref> The members of the Bellmawr Borough Council are Raymond Bider (D, 2025), James P. "Jamie" Casey (D, 2025), James F. D'Angelo (D, 2026), Bill Evans (D, 2024; elected to fill an unexpired term), Johann Fina (D, 2026) and Craig R. Wilhelm (D, 2024).<ref name=Officials>[https://www.bellmawr.com/190/Borough-Council Borough Council], Borough of Bellmawr. Accessed April 20, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://bellmawr.com/?mdocs-file=219354 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Bellmawr. Accessed June 7, 2023.</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 December 2021, the borough council selected Bill Evans to fill the seat expiring in December 2024 that had been held by Steven Hagerty until he resigned from office.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/SouthJerseyObserver/videos/bill-evans-sworn-in-as-bellmawr-councilman/1072600833306395/ "Bill Evans sworn in as Bellmawr Councilman."], South Jersey Observer, December 20, 2021. Accessed May 10, 2022. "Today, Bellmawr Mayor Chuck Sauter administered the oath of office to Bill Evans as Councilman. Evans replaced Steve Hagerty who recently resigned his council seat due to personal circumstances."</ref> In November 2022, Evans was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Camden2022/>

In January 2016, Ray Bider was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that became vacant following the resignation the previous month of Joshua Tregear,<ref>[http://www.egovlink.com/public_documents300/bellmawr/published_documents/General%20Information/2016/RayBiderCouncilAppointment_PRweb.pdf Ray Bider Appointed To Bellmawr Council; Long Serving Volunteer Ascends to Member of Council], Borough of Bellmawr, February 5, 2016. Accessed June 23, 2016. "On January 28, 2016 at the Borough of Bellmawr Mayor / Council meeting, Raymond (Ray) Bider was appointed as a Member of Council to fill the seat vacated by Joshua Tregear, who resigned on December 31, 2015."</ref> who was appointed to serve as Borough Administrator.<ref>Forline, Anne. [http://www.gloucestercitynews.net/clearysnotebook/2016/02/former-bellmawr-councilman-appointed-bellmawr-administrator.html "Councilman Josh Tregear Appointed Bellmawr Administrator by a Vote of 3-2"], ''South Jersey Observer'', February 6, 2016. Accessed June 23, 2016. "During its Reorganization meeting on January 4, Bellmawr Council voted 3-2 in favor of appointing former councilman, Josh Tregear, as the new Borough Administrator."</ref>

In October 2015, David Spector was appointed to fill the seat expiring in December 2016 that had been held by David M. Duncan until his death the previous month.<ref>[http://capitolwords.org/date/2015/09/09/E1243-2_in-honor-of-councilman-david-duncan/ Rep. Donald W. Norcross] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805214157/http://capitolwords.org/date/2015/09/09/E1243-2_in-honor-of-councilman-david-duncan/ |date=2016-08-05 }}, Capitalwords, September 9, 2013. Accessed June 23, 2016. "Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere condolences and honor the memory of Bellmawr, New Jersey, Councilman David Duncan for his exemplary life of service to the Bellmawr community."</ref>

In November 2012, the council selected Joshua Tregear, from among a list of three candidates recommended by the Camden County Democratic Committee, to fill the vacant seat of Regina Piontkowski, who had resigned two months earlier after serving nearly 20 years in office.<ref>Concanon, Chris. [http://www.gloucestercitynews.net/clearysnotebook/2012/11/bellmawr-swearsin-new-councilmanjoshua-tregearby-chris-concannongloucester-city-newsfollowing-a-postponed-ceremony-bellmawr.html "Bellmawr Swears In New Councilman Joshua Tregear"], ''Gloucester City News'', November 14, 2012. Accessed December 29, 2013. "Following a postponed ceremony, Bellmawr Mayor and Council welcomed Joshua Tregear as their newest Councilman at an informal November 1st swearing-in.... Mr. Tregear assumes the seat vacated by the retiring Regina Piontkowski, who had resigned from Council September 30 for health and other reasons."</ref>