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4 ATLANTIC HUB NEWSPAPER MEDIA GROUP • www.centraljersey.com September 2, 2020 Gov. signs bill, eliminates title of ‘freeholder’ from county government

Say goodbye to the centuries-old title rooted in structural racism, this action will they should start with reviewing the name Middlesex) said. “The term dates back to of freeholder in New Jersey county eliminate the use of the term ‘freeholder’ in of Rutgers University, which is the largest a time before the Revolutionary War when government. county government – a title that is an out- institution of higher education in New Jer- only white male owners of debt-free land

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has growth of a time when people of color and sey. were allowed to hold public office. New signed Senate bill 855 into law and the women were excluded from public office.” “With that being said, the changing of Jersey is the only state in the country that legislation requires the title of “chosen In a statement issued on Aug. 24, the the title of freeholder does not bother me still uses the term freeholder. It is long past freeholder” to be changed to “county comMiddlesex County Board of Chosen Freenearly as much as the legislative effort time that we right this wrong and change missioner” and all “boards of chosen freeholders, all five of whom are Democrats, that was put in during a time of financial the title to commissioner.” holders” to be known as “boards of county said, “We are pleased to see the Governor distress, (with ongoing) health and safety State Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Essex, commissioners,” according to a press reand the Legislature take action to retire the concerns, and state operations being in disMorris, Passaic) said, “As a former freelease from Murphy’s office. title of ‘chosen freeholder.’ array. holder, I believe it is important that the

The law also requires county govern“This term dates back to an era in which “In closing, I can only speak on behalf public knows the substance of what a freements to update their letterheads, stationpeople of color, women and those without of the Monmouth County Board of Choholder does rather than what the term freeary and other writings, as well as their financial means were not treated as equals sen Freeholders and whatever name we are holder is. websites, to bear the title of county com– and is not representative of the ideals called, we will continue to be leaders in the “Today’s action was nine years in the missioners in place of freeholders or chowhich we all aspire to today. state in what we call good government,” making from when I initially proposed the sen freeholders within one year of the bill’s “We are pleased to see this title be reArnone said. abolishment of the antiquated term. The effective date, Jan. 1, 2021. placed and look forward to entering 2021 “The decision to change the word freetitle ‘county commissioner’ will lend itself

The law does not require counties to as the Middlesex County Board of County holder to county commissioner is long to transparency. This revamp will ensure update or replace signs or other writings Commissioners,” the freeholders said. awaited,” said Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmore Garden State residents better underto reflect this title change within the speciAsked to comment on the new law, mouth). “In Monmouth County, where we standing the function of this important pofied timeframe if doing so would require Thomas Arnone, the director of the Monhave towns like Freehold Borough, Freesition in county government,” Pennacchio the expenditure of county funds, according mouth County Board of Chosen Freeholdhold Township and Upper Freehold, not said. to the press release. In those cases, the title ers, all five of whom are Republicans, said, only will changing this title avoid confuThe press release issued by the goverwould be changed whenever the writing is “As I have previously stated, I respect sion and increase voter participation, it will nor’s office quoted Jonathan Holloway, next updated or replaced in the ordinary the opinions of my freeholder colleagues tell women and our communities of color the new president of Rutgers University, course of business. throughout the state who support the title that New Jersey does not associate itself in saying, “This is not about the people who

“We have an obligation to ensure that change, but I have a somewhat different any way with these archaic values of the serve as freeholders, but rather the title. governance in New Jersey is inclusive and opinion on the matter. past. This is a proud day in our history.” The title freeholder has a legacy that grows representative of the tremendous diversity “I have advocated for the state to look “The term freeholder is outdated and out of denying people access and the right of our great state,” Murphy said. “Amid a at all offensive names across the board and it’s offensive to women and minorities,” to have a voice. Our present day should national reckoning to re-examine vestiges not just the title of freeholder. For example, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (Dsimply not look like that.”