Omar Bennett
In the United States, each state and territory has constitutional officers who govern the state governments. These officers may be elected or appointed, and their number and powers vary from state to state. Union County, New Jersey, has a Board of County Commissioners consisting of nine members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. The constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis in Union County include the County Clerk, the Sheriff, and the Surrogate. The County Clerk is responsible for a range of administrative services, including the filing and recording of documents related to real estate ownership and transfer, processing passport applications, and supervising elections. The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services, investigates crimes, and maintains the local jail. Additionally, Union County has a Police Department that operates independently of the Sheriff's Office and is responsible for patrolling the county's properties and providing police presence when requested.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of constitutional officers | 3 |
| Elected by | People of their respective counties |
| Term | 5 years |
| Constitutional officers | County Clerk, Sheriff, Surrogate |
| County Clerk's responsibilities | Administration of services such as filing and recording documents related to real estate, processing passport applications, assisting with notary public applications, supervising elections, etc. |
| Sheriff's responsibilities | Law enforcement, investigating crimes, pursuing offenders, making arrests, maintaining jails, managing corrections programs, transporting criminal defendants, providing courthouse security, serving legal papers, etc. |
| Treasurer's responsibilities | Collecting taxes and local fees, making payments on behalf of the local government, managing investments, tracking budget surpluses and deficits |
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Union County, New Jersey
The Union County Sheriff's Office is located in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and is currently headed by Peter Corvelli, who succeeded Ralph Froehlich, the longest-serving Sheriff in New Jersey history. The Sheriff provides law enforcement services, including investigating crimes, pursuing offenders, and making arrests. They also maintain the local jail, manage other local corrections programs, and transport criminal defendants to and from corrections facilities.
Union County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, with nine members elected at large to three-year terms, with three seats up for election each year. The board selects a Chair and Vice-Chair from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting in January.
The Constitution of New Jersey establishes a Secretary of State and Attorney General, both appointed by the governor. The Attorney General is the state government's chief legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer. They have wide discretion in what cases to prosecute and how to settle them and can make an impact beyond their state. They are the second most powerful constitutional officer, after the governor.
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County Clerk
In the United States, each state and territory has constitutional officers who lead the state governments. These officers may be elected or appointed, and their number and powers vary from state to state, depending on the constitution and statutes of each state.
The County Clerk of Union County, New Jersey, is responsible for a broad range of services and functions, including the recording and filing of all land transactions within the 21 municipalities of the county, as well as processing passports and elections. The County Clerk's office also offers a Property Fraud Alert Notification system, which enables property owners to respond quickly to potentially fraudulent activity involving their property. This is a free service that aims to protect property owners, especially seniors, who are often targeted by property fraud.
The Township Clerk of Union Township, New Jersey, serves as the secretary of the municipal corporations and the local election administrator. They also act as secretary to the governing body, providing administrative services such as receiving, distributing, and assigning correspondence for the Mayor and Committee. The Township Clerk oversees various licenses, such as animal licensing and garage sales, and maintains all official township records.
While the specific duties of a County Clerk may vary from state to state, they generally play a crucial role in maintaining official records, facilitating elections, and providing administrative support to ensure the smooth functioning of the county's governance.
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Sheriff
In Union County, New Jersey, the Sheriff is one of three county-wide elected constitutional officers, along with the County Clerk and Surrogate. The Union County Sheriff's Office is located in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and is currently headed by Peter Corvelli, who is assisted by two undersheriffs, Dennis Burke and Amilcar Colon. The Sheriff provides all law enforcement services, including investigating crimes, pursuing offenders, and making arrests. They also maintain the local jail, manage other local corrections programs, and transport criminal defendants to and from corrections facilities. The Sheriff also provides courthouse security, serves legal papers, summons jurors and witnesses, and executes court judgments.
The Sheriff's Office is separate from the Union County Police Department, which operates independently and is tasked with patrolling Union County's properties. The Police Department also supplements the local municipalities with police presence and patrol when requested. The current Chief of Police of the Union County Police Department is Martin Mogensen, who has held the position since February 2023.
The Sheriff's Office also includes the Union County Jail, which was the subject of a 1981 investigation that reviewed issues relating to overcrowding, escapes, escape attempts, and suicides in the detention facility. As a result, on July 1, 2021, the Sheriff's Office regained control of the jail and made it a division within the organization, known as the Division of Corrections.
The New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 108 is the official labor union and the collective bargaining agent for the Sheriff's Officers of Union County. This body is subdivided into Local 108 for the line officers and Local 108A for the supervisors, including sergeants, lieutenants, and captains.
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Surrogate
In the United States, each state and territory has constitutional officers who lead the state governments. These officers may be elected or appointed, and the number and powers of state constitutional officers vary from state to state, based on the constitution and statutes of each state.
One such constitutional officer is the Surrogate of Union County, currently held by Christopher Hudak, Esq. A surrogate is a judicial officer who typically deals with probate, wills, and estate administration. They are responsible for handling the legal process of validating a person's will and distributing their property after their death. Surrogates also have jurisdiction over adoptions and name changes. The role of the surrogate is to ensure that the wishes of the deceased are carried out and that the rights of all parties involved are protected.
The specific duties and responsibilities of a surrogate can vary from state to state and even within different counties of the same state. In some states, the surrogate may also have additional responsibilities, such as overseeing the administration of trusts or handling guardianship matters.
In Union County, the Surrogate's Office is committed to providing efficient and accessible services to the residents of the county. As part of Surrogate Hudak's 2024 initiatives, the office has expanded its hours and implemented new technologies to enhance accessibility for county residents. These initiatives aim to streamline the legal processes handled by the Surrogate's Office, making it more convenient and efficient for individuals to navigate these often complex and emotional legal matters.
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Board of County Commissioners
Union County, New Jersey, is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, consisting of nine members who are elected at-large for three-year terms. Each year, three seats are up for election. The board selects a Chair and Vice-Chair from among its members at an annual reorganization meeting held in January. An appointed County Manager oversees the county's day-to-day operations.
Union County's County Commissioners, as of 2025, are:
- Chair (term ending December 31): To be determined
- Vice-Chair (term ending December 31): To be determined
Union County also has three county-wide elected Constitutional Officers: the County Clerk, the Sheriff, and the Surrogate. The County Clerk is responsible for a range of administrative services, including the filing and recording of documents related to real estate ownership and transfer, processing U.S. passport applications, assisting individuals in becoming Notary Public, and supervising elections. The term of the County Clerk is five years.
The Sheriff's Office, headed by Peter Corvelli, provides law enforcement services, investigates crimes, pursues offenders, makes arrests, and maintains the local jail. The Sheriff also manages other local corrections programs, transports criminal defendants, provides courthouse security, and serves legal papers.
While not specifically mentioned as a Constitutional Officer for Union County, the Treasurer is a typical position in many states, serving as the chief financial officer and responsible for collecting taxes and local fees, as well as making payments on behalf of the local government.
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Frequently asked questions
The constitutional officers in Union County, New Jersey are the County Clerk, the Sheriff, and the Surrogate. Union County is governed by a Board of County Commissioners, with an appointed County Manager overseeing day-to-day operations.
The County Clerk is responsible for the administration of a broad range of services, including the filing and recording of documents related to real estate ownership and transfer, processing US passport applications, assisting individuals in becoming Notary Public, and supervising elections. The Sheriff provides law enforcement services, investigates crimes, pursues offenders, makes arrests, and maintains the local jail. The specific duties of the Surrogate are unclear, but they are likely to have similar responsibilities to the County Clerk.
The County Clerk and Surrogate are elected by the people of Union County at the annual elections for members of the General Assembly. They hold their offices for five years. The Sheriff is also elected, but the specific process is unclear.
Yes, each state and territory in the United States has constitutional officers, and the number and nature of these positions vary. For example, in Loudoun County, Virginia, the constitutional officers are the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Sheriff, and the Commissioner of the Revenue.
