Editing Rockleigh, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
Rockleigh 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. 165.</ref> The borough form of government used by Rockleigh 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=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>

{{As of|2023}}, the [[mayor]] of Rockleigh is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] James G. Pontone, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Rockleigh Borough Council are Ilana H. Altman (R, 2025), Rosanne Antine (R, 2024), Marilyn A. Bresnak (R, 2024), Frank S. Cumiskey (R, 2023), David C. Hansen (R, 2025) and John Ivan Mender (R, 2024).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://rockleighnj.org/mayorandcouncil/ Mayor & Council], Borough of Rockleigh. Accessed March 15, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://rockleighnj.org/mayorandcouncil/PDF/2022/2022_Municipal_Budget.pdf 2022 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Rockleigh. Accessed July 25, 2022.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=61 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</ref><ref name=Bergen2022>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Certified%20Statement%20of%20Vote%20Book%2011-21-22.pdf Bergen County November 8, 2022 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]] Clerk, updated November 21, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Bergen2021>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/Statement%20of%20Vote%2011-17-21(1).pdf Bergen County Statement of Vote November 2, 2021 Official results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], updated November 17, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=Bergen2020>[https://www.bergencountyclerk.org/_Content/pdf/ElectionResult/NOV_2020_General_Precinct_Summary.pdf Precinct Summary Results Report - Combined 2020 Bergen County General Election - November 3, 2020 Official Results], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], December 3, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In elections held in November 2010, Robert R. Schaffer ran a successful write-in campaign and defeated incumbent mayor Nick Langella by a 2–1 margin. Councilmembers Shirl Ewald and James Pontone were re-elected.<ref name=Election2010>Lightdale, Marc. [http://www.northjersey.com/topstories/rockleigh/106582628_Write-in_Republican_defeats_defeats_incumbent_GOP_mayor.html "In stunner, write-in candidate knocks off Rockleigh mayor"], ''Northern Valley Suburbanite'', November 3, 2010. Accessed April 8, 2011. "Write-in candidate Robert R. Schaffer was elected mayor on Tuesday night, defeating the Republican incumbent Nick Langella.... Schaffer received 74 votes, according to Borough Administrator William McGuire, and Langella had 37, including absentee ballots.... Two council members, both Republicans, ran unopposed. James Pontone, who has been on the council since 2003, got 64 votes; Shirl Ewald, who has been on the council since 1995, received 65."</ref>

Law enforcement services in Rockleigh are provided under contract by the [[Northvale, New Jersey|Northvale]] Police Department.<ref>[http://www.rockleighnj.org/police/ Police Department], Borough of Rockleigh. Accessed November 25, 2017. "Rockleigh Borough contracts with the Borough of Northvale, NJ, for a full range of security services and resources."</ref> The borough paid Northvale $325,000 per year for police coverage in 2017.<ref>Lightdale, Marc. [http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/northvale/2017/01/03/northvale-police-ink-new-contract/95972082/ "Northvale, police ink new contract"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', January 3, 2017. "Rockleigh, which gets its police coverage from Northvale, is expected to pay the borough approximately $325,000 for this year, officials said."</ref>