James R. Kern III

James R. Kern III
Mayor of Pohatcong Township, New Jersey
Assumed office
May 16, 2011

James R. Kern III is the Mayor of Pohatcong Township, New Jersey, United States.[1] Kern, a Republican, was elected Mayor in non-partisan elections in May 2011 for a four-year term with 63% of the vote. Kern was elected at 22 years of age, making him the current youngest elected Mayor in New Jersey.[2][3]

Prior to his election to the office Mayor, Kern was elected to the Township Council at the age of 21. He defeated two incumbent councilmen while finishing his senior year at Rutgers University.[4]

As Mayor, Kern has promoted a transparent and fiscally responsible municipal government. One of Kern’s first acts as Mayor was developing a website advisory board which invited input from citizens in developing an official municipal website, which was nonexistent at that time.[5]

In August 2012, Kern proposed an ordinance which would cap the amount Pohatcong could borrow at $400,000 and force approval of expenditures exceeding that amount to public referendum. The council narrowly passed the legislation at the following meeting.[6]

In 2014, Kern was an outspoken opponent of New Jersey's red light camera program which was later discontinued in part due to his vocal opposition.[7]

Kern received his associate degree in Liberal Arts from Warren County Community College and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rutgers University.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Pohatcong Township - Mayor James R. Kern III". pohatcongtwp.org. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "James Kern III is Pohatcong Township's new mayor". lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Pohatcong Township Mayor-elect James Kern III's youth gives some pause, while others see promise". lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "College student James Kern III, 21, elected to Pohatcong Township Council". lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  5. ↑ "Pohatcong Township forms committee for new and improved website". lehighvalleylive.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  6. ↑ http://www.wfmz.com/news/news-regional-newjersey/Bill-to-limit-borrowing-voter-approval-now-required/-/132518/16044968/-/7mo3yj/-/index.html
  7. ↑ "NJ Red Light Camera Experiment to End". nbcnewyork.com. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
  8. ↑ "A Student of Government - Rutgers Magazine". rutgers.edu. Retrieved 23 January 2017.
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