In Middletown, New Jersey, residents don’t elect a mayor. Under Middletown’s 1971 Special Charter — largely a township committee form of government — residents elect five township committee members, who then select amongst themselves which one will serve as mayor for the year. Not surprisingly, the person chosen is often a township committee member who is up for election that year. That gives that person an unfair advantage in the election due to the additional press coverage afforded the mayor and the mayor’s center stage in the township’s own Middletown Minutes, a taxpayer-funded publication and email newsletter.
Do you want more fairness? Do you want to be able to directly elect a mayor who answers to you, the constituent? Do you want to see separation between Middletown’s executive (mayor) and legislative (township committee) branches of government? Do you want someone who better represents your interests on the township committee?
There is a petition circulating for a 2022 ballot referendum that would do just that. You can read more about it and sign the petition at: https://www.middletown4wards.com
