Editing Watchung, New Jersey (section)

==Government==
[[File:Watchung_Municipal_Building.jpg|thumb|right|Watchung Municipal Building.]]
[[File:WWI_&_WWII_Memorial_in_Watchung.jpg|thumb|right|[[World War I|WWI]] and [[World War II|WWII]] Memorial.]]
[[File:Texier House Museum, Watchung, NJ.jpg|thumb|right|Texier House Museum.]]
[[File:Below dam of Watchung Lake NJ.jpg|thumb|right|Park below the dam.]]
[[File:Signpost for Watchung Lake NJ.jpg|thumb|right|Sign post.]]
[[File:Watchung Lake looking southwest.jpg|thumb|right|View of Watchung Lake.]]

===Local government===
Watchung 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>[https://watchungnj.gov/government/forms-of-government Form of Government], Borough of Watchung. Accessed May 4, 2022. "Mayor and 6 Council. Elected at-large. Mayor has a 4 year term. Council has staggered 3 year terms. Partisan"</ref><ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 94.</ref> The borough form of government used by Watchung 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|2024}}, the [[mayor]] of Watchung Borough is [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Ronald Jubin, whose term of office ends December 31, 2026. Members of the Watchung Borough Council are Sonia Abi-Habib (R, 2026), Curt S. Dahl (R, 2024), Christine B. Ead (R, 2024), Paul Fischer (R, 2025), Robert L. Gibbs (R, 2026) and Paolo Marano (R, 2025).<ref name=MayorCouncil>[https://watchungnj.gov/government/mayor Mayor and Council], Borough of Watchung. Accessed February 29, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://watchungnj.gov/government/budgets/2023-1/1560-2023-certified-adopted-budget/file#page=15 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Borough of Watchung. Accessed February 29, 2024.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/46227/638203671214730000#page=72 ''2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices''], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]]. Accessed February 29, 2024.</ref><ref name=Somerset2023>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Somerset/119024/web.317647/#/summary 2023 General Election November 7, 2023 Certified Official Results RESULTS], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]], November 29, 2023. Accessed January 1, 2024.</ref><ref name=Somerset2022>[https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NJ/Somerset/116175/web.307039/#/summary General Election November 8, 2022 Final Certified Results], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]], updated November 23, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=Somerset2021>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/43891/637725959984900000 2021 General Election Winning Candidates], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]]. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref>

In December 2019, the borough council selected Ronald Jubin to complete the term expiring in December 2020 that had been held by Robert L. Gibbs until he resigned from office the previous month.<ref>Parker-Magyar, Alex. [https://www.newjerseyhills.com/echoes-sentinel/news/watchung-appoints-jubin-to-fill-borough-council-vacancy/article_fef16773-1749-571e-affb-cee26586c0ba.html "Watchung appoints Jubin to fill Borough Council vacancy"], ''Echoes-Sentinel'', December 11, 2019. Accessed March 8, 2020. "The Borough Council voted unanimously Tuesday, Dec. 10, to appoint Ronald 'Ron' Jubin as its newest member. Jubin, 54, of Birchwood Lane, was appointed to fulfill the unexpired term of former Borough Council President Robert Gibbs, who resigned effective Tuesday, Nov. 26. The term expires Dec. 31, 2020."</ref>

===Federal, state and county representation===
Watchung is located in the 7th 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 name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#21 Districts by Number for 2011–2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 07}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 21}}

{{NJ Somerset County Commissioners}}

===Politics===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Watchung vote by party <br /> in presidential elections<ref>{{Cite web |title=NJ DOS - Division of Elections - Election Results Archive |url=https://nj.gov/state/elections/election-information-results.shtml |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=nj.gov}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.8%''' ''1,819''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.4% ''1,803''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.8% ''104''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.8%''' ''2,044''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.2% ''1,823''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.4% ''53''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.6%''' ''1,551''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.7% ''1,523''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.7% ''117''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.1% ''1,198''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.9%''' ''1,687''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''27''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.2% ''1,415''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.0%''' ''1,803''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''29''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.3% ''1,516''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.5%''' ''1,865''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''30''
|-
|}
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,154 registered voters in Watchung, of which 845 (20.3% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 1,483 (35.7% vs. 25.7%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 1,823 (43.9% vs. 48.2%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 3 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref name=VoterRegistration>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-somerset-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary – Somerset], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed February 14, 2013.</ref> Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 71.6% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 93.3% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 – State – County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200212202223/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTP7.ST16?slice=GEO~0400000US34 |date=February 12, 2020 }}, [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed February 14, 2013.</ref>

In the [[2016 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2016 presidential election]], Democrat [[Hillary Clinton]] received 48.6% of the vote (1,551 cast), ahead of Republican [[Donald Trump]] who received 47.7% of the vote (1,523 votes), and other candidates with 3.7% (117 votes). 3,191 votes were cast in total. In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 57.9% of the vote (1,687 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 41.1% (1,198 votes), and other candidates with 0.9% (27 votes), among the 2,931 ballots cast by the borough's 4,396 registered voters (19 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 66.7%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-somerset.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Somerset 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-somerset.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Somerset 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 1,803 votes (55.0% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 1,415 votes (43.2% vs. 52.1%) and other candidates with 29 votes (0.9% vs. 1.1%), among the 3,277 ballots cast by the borough's 4,070 registered voters, for a turnout of 80.5% (vs. 78.7% in Somerset County).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-somerset.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Somerset County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed February 14, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 1,865 votes (54.5% vs. 51.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 1,516 votes (44.3% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 30 votes (0.9% vs. 0.9%), among the 3,424 ballots cast by the borough's 3,795 registered voters, for a turnout of 90.2% (vs. 81.7% in the whole county).<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_somerset_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Somerset County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed February 14, 2013.</ref>

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 72.8% of the vote (1,335 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 25.4% (466 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (32 votes), among the 1,861 ballots cast by the borough's 4,396 registered voters (28 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-somerset.pdf |title=Governor - Somerset 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-somerset.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Somerset 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 1,428 votes (60.6% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 720 votes (30.5% vs. 34.1%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 178 votes (7.6% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 15 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 2,357 ballots cast by the borough's 4,155 registered voters, yielding a 56.7% turnout (vs. 52.5% in the county).<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-somerset.pdf 2009 Governor: Somerset County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202005801/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-somerset.pdf |date=February 2, 2015 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed February 14, 2013.</ref>