Editing Branchburg, New Jersey (section)

=== 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>