Rick Fontana
Bridgewater (Republican)
Assistant Chairman

Rick is a personal wealth consultant with a Certified Financial Planner designation and over 29 years of experience. His career began in 1981 with Ryan, Beck and Co., where he specialized in tax-exempt municipal bonds and bank stocks. As he worked towards CFP certification, he moved his business to a major broker dealer firm in 1990. He currently oversees more than $150 million in client assets.

Over his career Rick has always been involved in the community. He was a member of the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders from January 1998 to December 2009, serving as Freeholder Director in 2000, 2005 and 2009. He also served at different times as chairman of the county’s Human Services, Public Works and Finance/Administration areas.

He was a Somerset County Planning Board member from 1992 to 1997, serving as chairman in 1996 and 1997. He also was Planning Board representative to the Open Space Advisory Committee from 1995 to 1997.

His municipal experience includes a term on the Bridgewater Township Council from September 1994 to December 1997. He previously was a member of the North Plainfield Borough Council from 1987 to 1990, serving as Council President in 1988.

He received the Freeholder of the Year award from the Marconi Foundation in 2006; the New Jersey Recreation & Park Association’s Public Service Award in 2006; the Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition’s Diversity Award-Government in 2005; a Raritan Valley Community College Service Award in 2005; and a National Association of Counties, Building Disaster-Resistant Communities Leadership Award in 2001.

Rick received a bachelor's degree in political science in 1976 from William Paterson University. He also attended Fairleigh Dickinson University for Certified Financial Planning Studies from 1990 to 1992. He is a 1971 graduate of Essex Catholic High School. Rick and his wife, Karen, have two sons and live in Bridgewater.