Editing Middlesex, New Jersey (section)

==Government==

===Local government===
[[File:Middlesex, NJ Firemen's Memorial, Jan. 2025.jpg|thumb|right|Middlesex Municipal Building and Firemen's Memorial]]
Middlesex 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. 98.</ref> The borough form of government used by Middlesex 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>

The seven-member governing body is empowered to enact local ordinances, to levy municipal taxes and conduct the affairs of the community. In almost all cases, it can review and approve the actions of other Middlesex Borough committees and agencies. The mayor and Borough Council conduct all of their business during monthly meetings open to the public. All legislative powers of the borough are exercised by the mayor and council. These powers can take the form of a resolution, ordinance or proclamation.

{{As of|2024}}, the [[mayor]] of Middlesex is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] John "Jack" Mikolajczyk, whose term of office ends December 31, 2023. Members of the Middlesex Borough Council are Council President Michael Conahan (R, 2026), Jeremiah A. Carnes (R, 2025), Robert Dessino (R, 2025), Kevin Dotey (R, 2026), Martin Quinn (R, 2024) and Douglas Rex (R, 2024).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://www.middlesexboro-nj.gov/mayor-council Mayor and Council], Borough of Middlesex. Accessed May 27, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5ee8c28c4123db0c8d74ece8/t/6642baa689e60f1bbc941522/1715649191075/2024+Middlesex+Borough+NJ-Intro+Budget.pdf#page=13 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Middlesex. Accessed May 27, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Middlesex/119048/web.317647/#/summary November 7, 2023 General Election Official Results], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], December 7, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Middlesex/116148/web.307039/#/summary November 8, 2022 General Election Official Results], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], updated November 22, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Middlesex2021>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Middlesex/110780/web.278093/#/summary General Election November 2, 2021 Official Results], [[Middlesex County, New Jersey]], updated November 19, 2021. Accessed April 13, 2022.</ref>

In July 2022, the borough council appointed Michael Conahan to fill the seat expiring in December 2023 that had been held by Amy Flood. Conahan served on an interim basis until the November 2022 election when he was elected to serve the balance of the term.<ref name=Middlesex2022/>

In January 2020, the borough council appointed Amy Flood to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that was vacated by John L. Madden when he took office as mayor.<ref>[http://middlesexboro-nj.gov/index.php/mayor-council/mayor-john-madden/7-mayor-council Councilwoman Amy Flood], Borough of Middlesex. Accessed May 10, 2020.</ref><ref>[http://middlesexboroughnj.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileView.aspx?Type=12&ID=1414 Meeting Minutes for January 28, 2020], Borough of Middlesex. Accessed May 10, 2020. "Mayor Madden made a motion to approve Ms. Amy Flood to fill the vacancy on Council seconded by Councilman Mikolajczyk and carried by a unanimous vote of Council."</ref>

Until his selection in early 2006 to serve as borough administrator, Ron Dobies had been one of the longest-tenured mayors in New Jersey, with 26 years of service to Middlesex. Dobies left his position as mayor in 2006 and took a position as the borough's administrator. After being fired in 2008, he was successful in his suit against the borough and was restored to his position. In 2011 he ran for mayor again and won a four-year term that ended in 2015.<ref>Cooke, Jay Jefferson. [https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/local/middlesex-county/2016/01/02/middlesex-mayor-dobies-retires-after-life-service/78079844/ "Middlesex Mayor Dobies retires after life of service"], ''[[Courier News]]'', January 2, 2016. Accessed December 5, 2019. "After serving the public for nearly four decades and more than half of his life, Ronald S. Dobies, who this week ended his most recent term as mayor of Middlesex Borough, may at last take a break.... Becoming mayor in 1980, Dobies' first tour in the borough's top chair lasted more than a quarter-century. After being mayor for 26 years, Dobies became administrator in 2006. He was terminated in April 2008 but sued the municipality, claiming the council acted improperly by failing to pass a resolution formally removing him from the job. A judge sided with Dobies, and ordered the borough to pay him through April 8, 2008, plus 90 days' pay, plus pay for vacation and sick days that Dobies would have earned. He was then given the job back after offering to return at the nominal $1 annual salary.... But Dobies weathered that storm and in 2011 made another run for mayor, defeating the GOP and regaining the mayor's post."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Middlesex is located in the 12th Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 21st state legislative district.<ref>[https://nj1015.com/whats-your-new-nj-legislative-district-20-moved-on-new-map/ Districts by Number for 2023-2031], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed September 18, 2023.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 12}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 21}}

{{NJ Middlesex County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 8,366 registered voters in Middlesex, of which 2,094 (25.0%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 1,605 (19.2%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 4,662 (55.7%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 5 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-middlesex-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Middlesex], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed November 25, 2012.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Democrat [[Barack Obama]] received 50.8% of the vote (2,819 cast), ahead of Republican [[Mitt Romney]] with 47.7% (2,645 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (80 votes), among the 5,587 ballots cast by the borough's 8,481 registered voters (43 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 65.9%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-middlesex.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Middlesex County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-middlesex.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Middlesex County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 51.6% of the vote (3,185 cast), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 45.9% (2,837 votes) and other candidates with 1.4% (84 votes), among the 6,177 ballots cast by the borough's 8,612 registered voters, for a turnout of 71.7%.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-middlesex.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed November 25, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 53.0% of the vote (3,202 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 45.6% (2,755 votes) and other candidates with 0.7% (58 votes), among the 6,040 ballots cast by the borough's 8,376 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 72.1.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_middlesex_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed November 25, 2012.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential Elections Results
!Year
![[Republican Party (New Jersey)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (New Jersey)|Democratic]]
![[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2024]]<ref name="2024Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 5, 2024 - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2024}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.5%''' ''3,709''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.0%  ''3,050''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.5% ''156''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 3, 2020 - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.0%''' ''3,608''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.9%  ''3,460''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |2.1% ''120''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/2016-results/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 8, 2016 - Middlesex County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.4%''' ''3,257''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.4% ''2,696''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |3.4% ''211''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2012/2012-presidential-middlesex.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Middlesex County|date=March 15, 2013|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=January 9, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.7% ''2,645''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.8%'''  ''2,819''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.4% ''80''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]'''<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-middlesex.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Middlesex County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722203923/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-middlesex.pdf |date=July 22, 2013}}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.6%''' ''3,185''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.9%  ''2,837''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |1.4% ''84''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]'''<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_middlesex_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Middlesex County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722204150/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_middlesex_co_2004.pdf |date=July 22, 2013}}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 9, 2025.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.0%''' ''3,202''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.6%   ''2,755''
| style="text-align:center; background:honeyDew;" |0.7% ''58''
|-
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 69.4% of the vote (2,478 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 29.3% (1,045 votes), and other candidates with 1.3% (46 votes), among the 3,617 ballots cast by the borough's 8,552 registered voters (48 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 42.3%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-middlesex.pdf |title=Governor - Middlesex County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-middlesex.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Middlesex County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 58.2% of the vote (2,410 ballots cast), ahead of  Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 31.6% (1,307 votes), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 8.1% (336 votes) and other candidates with 1.1% (46 votes), among the 4,142 ballots cast by the borough's 8,374 registered voters, yielding a 49.5% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-middlesex.pdf 2009 Governor: Middlesex County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017230558/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-middlesex.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed November 25, 2012.</ref>