Editing Garfield, New Jersey (section)

===Local government===
The City of Garfield operates under the [[1923 Municipal Manager Law]] of New Jersey municipal government, with a governing body comprised of a five-member Council, who appoint a City Manager. Council members are elected [[at-large]] in [[non-partisan democracy|non-partisan]] elections to serve four-year terms on a concurrent basis.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 154.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=9 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 9. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The city is one of seven municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government.<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> In November 2015, following a referendum that supported the move by a 3-1 margin, the City Council voted to shift the city's municipal elections from May to November, citing hopes for greater voter participation and potential savings of $50,000 for each election; the shift result in the extension of terms for the then-serving council and municipal manager by six months, to the end of December 2016. The most recent municipal election was held on November 8, 2016, together with the presidential election.<ref>Cattafi, Kristie. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305073146/http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/council-introduces-ordinance-to-move-election-1.1458444 "Council introduces ordinance to move elections in Garfield"], ''Community News'' (Garfield edition), November 19, 2015, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of March 5, 2016. Accessed August 29, 2017. "The council unanimously voted in favor of the ordinance after the public voted on Nov. 3, 846 to 276 for a non-binding referendum on whether to change the city council election from May to the day of the general election in November.... If adopted, the next scheduled council election will switch from May 10, 2016 to Nov. 8, 2016. The council elections will be on cycle every four years with the presidential election."</ref><ref>Cattafi, Kristie. [http://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/garfield/2016/11/08/ten-residents-seek-seats-during-garfields-first-november-election/93545800/ "Ten residents seek seats during Garfield's first November election"], ''Community News'' (Garfield edition), November 8, 2016. Accessed August 29, 2017. "Garfield will be holding it first November council election after the governing body approved to change the date this year."</ref><ref>[http://www.ecode360.com/31091261 Chapter 18: Elections, Municipal], Garfield City Code. Accessed August 29, 2017. "Municipal elections in the City of Garfield shall be held on the day of the general election, that is, the Tuesday after the first Monday in November."</ref>

At a reorganization meeting held after each election, the Council selects one of its members to be the Mayor and another to serve as Deputy Mayor. The day-to-day operation of the city is carried out under the supervision of the appointed department heads, who report to the City Manager.

{{As of|2024}}, members of the Garfield City Council are [[Mayor]] Richard Rigoglioso, Deputy Mayor Joseph Delaney, Alejandina Banch, Romi Herrera and Pawel Maslag, all serving concurrent terms of office that end December 31, 2024.<ref name=CityCouncil>[https://www.garfieldnj.org/directory Directory], City of Garfield. Accessed June 4, 2024.</ref><ref>[https://www.garfieldnj.org/_Content/pdf/budgets/2024-Introduced-Budget.pdf#page=23 2024 Municipal Data Sheet], City of Garfield. Accessed June 4, 2024.</ref><ref name=BergenCountyDirectory>[https://www.co.bergen.nj.us/images/About_Bergen_County/2024-county-directory.pdf#page=44 ''2024 County and Municipal Directory''], [[Bergen County, New Jersey]], April 2024. Accessed April 15, 2024.</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 July 2021, the city council appointed Alejandina Banch to fill the council seat that had been held by Erin Nora Delaney until she stepped down to take office as the city manager / clerk, succeeding [[Thomas Duch]], who had been appointed as the administrator of [[Bergen County, New Jersey|Bergen County]].<ref>Sobko, Katie. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/garfield/2021/07/14/garfield-nj-hires-former-deputy-mayor-erin-delaney-city-manager/7954665002/ "Garfield hires former Deputy Mayor Erin Delaney as city manager"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', July 14, 2021. Accessed June 26, 2022. "Former Deputy Mayor Erin Delaney was hired as the city’s new manager on Tuesday, just a week after resigning her elected office, and only a month after the City Council repealed employment restrictions on former elected officials.... The council was also tasked with appointing a new member. It opted for Alejandina Banch, known in the city simply as 'Sugar.' She will fill the council seat vacated by Delaney until the general election this fall."</ref> Banch served on an interim basis until the November 2021 general election, when she was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=Bergen2021/>