Somerset County is governed and managed by a Board of County Commissioners.The board consists of five members; one or two are elected each year from the County at large to serve three-year terms. At an annual reorganization meeting held on the first Friday of January, the board selects a Director and Deputy Director from among its members.The Commissioners employ a full-time County Administrator who manages the day-to-day operations of County government.In 2025, there is a race for a one-year unexpired term.
In Somerset County, we have stunning mountains, scenic rivers, and thousands of babbling brooks. Unfortunately, thanks to the increase in “hundred year” storms due to climate change, we have catastrophic flooding that devastates neighborhoods and lives.
We have worked to address the causes of flooding that are under our purview. We purchased over 15,000 acres of open space to absorb rain and stream overflow and prevent overdevelopment. Additionally, we have partnered with the Green Brook Flood Control project and overseen the Blue Acres program in Somerset County to purchase homes that are in danger of repeated flooding.
We have also developed a world-class OEM that coordinates with municipal, state, and federal governments.
An important budgetary item is expanding our dual-stream recycling program. The next-generation trucks that allow us to easily collect recycling are expensive, but over time allow us to more quickly collect recycling, sort it more efficiently for greater revenue from reselling, and reduce injuries to our recycling staff. The communities that have begun using the dual-stream bins have reported that they are simpler to use, easier to bring to the end of the driveway, and don’t spill so their neighborhoods remain cleaner.
We have reached about half of the county with the new bins and trucks, and we need to accelerate the expansion to the entire county. This effort will will increase recycling revenues and reduce collection costs.
ICE is a federal agency that enforces federal laws. The County Commissioners have no role in enforcing local, state, or federal laws and as such do not have any role in interacting with immigration agents.
I believe it’s the cost of living and the high rise of taxes in our county. Another main concern of mine is the lack of recreational programs there are for our youth and special needs community in small towns in our county. I believe we should create policies to lower taxes and direct funding towards the special needs communities and our youth.
I believe we have to focus on the rise of domestic violence cases, special needs SA & abuse cases in schools and at home, the mental health crisis with our young generation, and our elders. I would love to work closely with the Child Abuse & Missing Children Commission, the Mental Health Board, Senior Citizen & Disabled Resident Transportation Board, Human Services Advisory Council, Commission on the Status of Women, and the Youth Services Commission.
As a candidate for Somerset County Commissioner — and as someone from the Hispanic community myself — I understand that immigration enforcement is an issue that affects many of our families directly.
Let me be clear: the role of the County Commissioner’s Office is not to enforce federal immigration law. That is the responsibility of federal agencies like ICE. However, the county can play an important role in shaping how local departments and services interact with federal agencies — and those decisions should always be guided by the values of public safety, due process, transparency, and respect for human dignity.
