Jump to content
Main menu
Main menu
move to sidebar
hide
Navigation
Main page
Recent changes
Random page
Help about MediaWiki
Special pages
Niidae Wiki
Search
Search
Appearance
Create account
Log in
Personal tools
Create account
Log in
Pages for logged out editors
learn more
Contributions
Talk
Editing
Branchburg, New Jersey
(section)
Page
Discussion
English
Read
Edit
View history
Tools
Tools
move to sidebar
hide
Actions
Read
Edit
View history
General
What links here
Related changes
Page information
Appearance
move to sidebar
hide
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
== Government == === Local government === Branchburg Township operates under the [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]] form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<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 Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters [[at-large]] in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election 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. 77.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=7 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 7. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The township has been governed by a five-member Township Council since the 1971 elections, when the population surpassed 4,000 in the [[1970 United States census]], mandating an expansion from the three-member committee that had been in place until then. A mayor and deputy mayor are selected from among the council from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting.<ref name=GovernmentInformation>[https://branchburg.nj.us/government/index.php Government Information], Township of Branchburg. Accessed May 15, 2022. "In the 1971 General Election, Branchburg voters elected a five member Township Committee.... All five members of the Township Committee are elected at large for staggered three-year terms (unless an unexpired term is open).... The Mayor is elected by the Township Committee from among its members for a one-year term."</ref> {{As of|2024}}, members of the Township Committee are [[Mayor]] Anna P. Columbus ([[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], term on committee and as mayor ends December 31, 2024), [[Deputy Mayor]] Thomas L. Young (R, term on committee ends 2025; term as deputy mayor ends 2024), Brendon Beatrice (R, 2024), David Owens (R, 2025) and James G. Schworn (R, 2026).<ref name=ElectedOfficials>[http://www.branchburg.nj.us/government/committee/index.php Township Committee 2022], Township of Branchburg. Accessed May 22, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://cms1files.revize.com/branchburgnj/2024%20Budget_Adopted%20copy.pdf#page=13 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], Township of Branchburg. Accessed May 22, 2024.</ref><ref name=SomersetDirectory>[https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/home/showpublisheddocument/46227/638203671214730000#page=56 ''2023 Directory of County & Municipal Offices''], [[Somerset County, New Jersey]]. Accessed April 10, 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 January 2020, the Township Committee chose David Owens from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the vacant seat expiring in December 2022 that had been held by Robert Petrelli until he resigned immediately after his new three-year term started.<ref>[https://branchburgtwpnj.documents-on-demand.com/Document/1a2e02f0-0a42-ea11-a2e4-000c29a59557/01-13-2020%20Regular.pdf Meeting Minutes for January 13, 2020], Borough of Branchburg. Accessed March 20, 2020. "Mayor Young announced that as many people know, Bob Petrelli, who was a member of the Township Committee, resigned effective noon on January 1st. Therefore, as required, the Republican District Committee has forwarded the names of those to be considered to fill the vacancay pursuant to regulations....Mr. Owens was sworn into office as a member of the Township Committee by Ms. Schmitt as Township Administrator Bonin held the bible."</ref> In July 2015, Patricia Rees resigned from office, citing her employment by the nonpartisan New Jersey School Board Association.<ref>[http://branchburgtwpnj.minutesondemand.com/Document/9e8ab9e2-3935-e511-9795-001fbc00ed84/Minutes 07-13-2015.pdf Regular Meeting July 13, 2015 Official Minutes], Township of Branchburg. Accessed August 18, 2015. "Township Committee member Patricia Rees resigned from the Committee effective July 6, 2015, due to a prohibition from holding political office in her new job."</ref> === Federal, state and county representation === Branchburg Township 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 16th 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#16 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref> {{NJ Congress 07}} {{NJ Senate}} {{NJ Legislative 16}} {{NJ Somerset County Commissioners}} ===Politics=== As of March 2011, there were a total of 9,970 registered voters in Branchburg Township, of which 1,832 (18.4% vs. 26.0% countywide) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 3,650 (36.6% vs. 25.7%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 4,484 (45.0% vs. 48.2%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 4 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 11, 2013.</ref> Among the township's 2010 Census population, 69.0% (vs. 60.4% in Somerset County) were registered to vote, including 93.2% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.4% countywide).<ref name=VoterRegistration/><ref>[https://www.census.gov GCT-P7: Selected Age Groups: 2010 - State -- County Subdivision; 2010 Census Summary File 1 for New Jersey], [[United States Census Bureau]]. Accessed February 11, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 60.2% of the vote (4,537 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 38.5% (2,902 votes), and other candidates with 1.2% (92 votes), among the 7,568 ballots cast by the township's 10,499 registered voters (37 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 72.1%.<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 4,651 votes (58.5% vs. 46.1% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 3,172 votes (39.9% vs. 52.1%) and other candidates with 92 votes (1.2% vs. 1.1%), among the 7,956 ballots cast by the township's 9,643 registered voters, for a turnout of 82.5% (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 11, 2013.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 4,706 votes (61.6% vs. 51.5% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[John Kerry]] with 2,835 votes (37.1% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 79 votes (1.0% vs. 0.9%), among the 7,639 ballots cast by the township's 9,087 registered voters, for a turnout of 84.1% (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 11, 2013.</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 77.1% of the vote (3,651 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 21.3% (1,010 votes), and other candidates with 1.6% (77 votes), among the 4,804 ballots cast by the township's 10,612 registered voters (66 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 45.3%.<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 3,945 votes (69.1% vs. 55.8% countywide), ahead of Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 1,266 votes (22.2% vs. 34.1%), Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 445 votes (7.8% vs. 8.7%) and other candidates with 27 votes (0.5% vs. 0.7%), among the 5,706 ballots cast by the township's 9,777 registered voters, yielding a 58.4% 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 11, 2013.</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;" |+ Branchburg 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/Republican}}|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.2% ''4,390'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.4%''' ''4,888'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.4% ''188'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.8% ''4,665'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.8%''' ''4,865'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.9% ''174'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.7% ''3,285'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.4%''' ''4,466'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.9% ''317'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.5% ''2,902'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.2%''' ''4,537'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.2% ''92'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.9% ''3,172'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.5%''' ''4,651'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.2% ''92'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.1% ''2,835'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.6%''' ''4,706'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.0% ''79'' |- |}
Summary:
Please note that all contributions to Niidae Wiki may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here.
You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see
Encyclopedia:Copyrights
for details).
Do not submit copyrighted work without permission!
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)
Search
Search
Editing
Branchburg, New Jersey
(section)
Add topic