Editing Elmer, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Elmer 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 Elmer 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|2022}}, the [[mayor]] of Elmer Borough is [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] Joseph P. Stemberger, whose term of office expires on December 31, 2023. Members of the Elmer Borough Council are Council President Lewis M. Schneider ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 2024), Lynda Davis (R, 2022), Bruce Foster (R, 2023), Cynthia L. Nolan (R, 2023), Steven A. Schalick (R, 2022) and James W. Zee, III (R, 2024).<ref name=Officials>[http://www.elmerboroughnj.com/Officials.html Elected Officials], Borough of Elmer. Accessed August 1, 2022. "Elmer is governed by a Mayor and six Borough Council members. The Mayor serves a four year term and Council serves three-year terms."</ref><ref>[http://www.elmerboroughnj.com/files/137209485.pdf#page=14 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Elmer. Accessed August 1, 2022.</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><ref name=Salem2020>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/ElectionSummaryReportRPT-short-version-revised-min.pdf Election Summary Report Salem County NJ General Election November 3, 2020 Official Report], [[Salem County, New Jersey]], updated November 25, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref><ref name=Salem2019>[https://salemcountyclerk.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Official-Result-Summary-Report-min.pdf November 5, 2019 Summary Report Salem County, NJ Official Results], [[Salem County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 18, 2019. Accessed January 1, 2020.</ref>

In February 2019, the borough council selected Bruce Foster from three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that became vacant following the resignation of R. Matthew Richards the previous month.<ref>[http://www.elmerboroughnj.com/files/131816281.pdf Meeting Minutes for February 13, 2019], Borough of Elmer. Accessed February 20, 2020. "Council Vacancy: Motion Davis second Zee to accept the resignation of Councilman R. Matthew Richards with regret effective January 31, 2019. Councilman Zee discussed three candidates recommended by the Republican Committee.... Swearing in and Oath of Office: Bruce Foster was administered the oath of office for Borough Council Member by the Clerk, Sarah Walker. Foster took the seat of Richards for the rest of the meeting."</ref> Foster served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Salem2019/>