Editing Clark, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Clark Township is governed within the [[Faulkner Act]], formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the [[Faulkner Act (mayor–council)|Mayor-Council]] system of municipal government, which is governed by a "[[Strong-mayor|strong mayor]]".<ref name=Administration/> The township is one of 71 municipalities (of the 564) 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 Clark Township Committee is comprised of seven members, who are all chosen on a partisan basis in even-numbered years as part of the November general election. Three members are elected [[at-large]] from the township as a whole and four are elected from [[Ward (United States)|wards]]. The three Council-at-large seats and Mayor come up to vote together, and then the four ward seats are up for vote 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. 98.</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><ref>[https://www.ourclark.com/217/Form-of-Government Form of Government], Clark Township. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref>

{{As of|2025}}, the [[Mayor]] of Clark is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Angel Albanese, who was appointed on an interim basis to serve on a term of office ending December 31, 2028, that had been held by Sal Bonaccorso until he was forced to resign from office. Members of the Township Council are Council President Angel Albanese (at-large; R, 2028), Council Vice President Bill Smith (at-large; R, 2028), Steven M. Hund (Third Ward; R, 2026), Frank G. Mazzarella (First Ward; R, 2026), Jimmy Minniti (at-large; R, 2028), Patrick O'Connor (Second Ward; R, 2026), and Brian P. Toal (Fourth Ward; R, 2026).<ref>{{cite web |title=Clark Reorganization Meetings Continue as Township Council Members, Mayor Sworn In |url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/clark/sections/government/articles/clark-reorganization-meetings-continue-as-township-council-members-mayor-sworn-in |website=TAPinto Clark |access-date=January 13, 2025 |date=January 6, 2025}}</ref><ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.ourclark.com/202/Mayor-Council Mayor & Council], Clark Township. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref><ref>[https://www.ourclark.com/DocumentCenter/View/2200/2024-Adopted-Budget#page=14 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Clark Township. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref><ref name=UnionDirectory>[http://www.unioncountyvotes.com/elected-officials/ Union County Elected Officials], [[Union County, New Jersey]]. Accessed January 12, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2024>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/122834/web.345435/#/summary General Election November 5, 2024 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2024. Accessed January 1, 2025.</ref><ref name=Union2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/119032/web.317647/#/summary General Election November 7, 2023 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2023. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref><ref name=Union2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Union/116135/web.303253/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results], [[Union County, New Jersey]], updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 3, 2024.</ref>

In January 2025, Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, who had just been re-elected for his seventh term, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal misconduct and was required to step down from office; Council President Angel Albanese will serve on an interim basis until a permanent replacement is chosen to fill the balance of the term of office.<ref>Nieto-Munoz, Sophie. [https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/01/10/disgraced-clark-mayor-resigns-under-plea-agreement-in-misconduct-case/ "Disgraced Clark mayor resigns under plea agreement in misconduct case"], [[New Jersey Monitor]], January 10, 2025. Accessed January 12, 2025. "Embattled Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso stepped down Friday as part of a plea agreement that required his resignation following criminal charges and a racism scandal. Bonaccorso, 64, pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Union County to conspiracy to commit official misconduct in the third degree, and forgery in the fourth degree.... Council President Angel Albanese will serve as acting mayor until the township’s Republican committee submits candidates to serve as interim mayor."</ref>