RICK FONTANA 1201 Crim Road Bridgewater, NJ 08807 Term expires 12/31/09

Freeholders Office: (908) 231-7030
Freeholders Fax: (908) 231-8754

E-mail: FreeholdersOffice@co.somerset.nj.us 

Freeholder Responsibilities:
Ex-officio to all county departments and divisions. 

Liason:
Policy & Organizational Development, Grants, Public Information, Constitutional Officers, Courts, Criminal Justice, Office of the Prosecutor, Raritan Valley Community College Board of School Estimate (after March), Library Commission, Park Commission, Planning Board, Superintendent of Schools, Economic Development Incentive Program, Open Space Advisory Committee, Youth Leadership Somerset (until June), Somerset County Business Partnership, Somerset County Improvement Authority (after budget adoption).

Public Service:
Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, 1998-present, Director, 2000, 2005, 2009, Deputy Director, 1999, 2004, 2008, Human Services Chairman, 2004, 2008, Public Works I, Chairman, 2003, Public Works II, Chairman, 2002, 2007, Finance/Administration, Chairman, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2006; Somerset County Planning Board, 1992-1997, Chairman, 1996, 1997, Vice Chairman, 1995, Secretary, 1994, Planning Board Representative to the Open Space Advisory Committee, 1995-1997; Bridgewater Township Council, September 1994-December 1997; North Plainfield Borough Council, 1987-1990, President, 1988, Vice President, 1987; Former North Plainfield Council Liaison to the Youth Services Commission, Rent Stabilization Board and Cultural Affairs Committee; North Plainfield Joint Sewer Meeting, Chairman, 1987, 1988; North Plainfield Parking Authority, Vice Chairman, 1990.  

Affiliations & Community Service:
Family and Community Services of Somerset County, Community Board Member, 2004-present; Somerset County 4-H Association, Member, 2005-present; Middle Earth Community Advisory Board Member 2006-present; Leadership Somerset, Board of Directors, Member, 1999-2001, 2006, 2007; Somerville Elks, Member, 1996-present; Somerset County Republican Organization By-laws Committee, Chairman, 1995; Republican State Committee, Somerset County Representative, 1993-1997; Bridgewater Council Election Campaign, Chairman, 1993; Bridgewater Republican Municipal Committee, Secretary, 1994-present; Bridgewater-Raritan-Somerville First Night, Board of Trustees, Member, 1996, 1997; North Plainfield Republican Municipal Committee, Former Chairman; North Plainfield Council Election Campaign, Chairman, 1990.

 Biography:
Married, wife Karen, two sons; Certified Financial Planner employed by a major broker dealer firm, 1990-present; Fairleigh Dickinson University, Certified Financial Planning Studies, 1990-1992; William Paterson University, Bachelor's Degree, Political Science, 1976; Essex Catholic High School, Graduate, 1971. 

Awards:
Marconi Foundation, Marconi Scholar Award, Freeholder of the Year, 2006;New Jersey Recreation & Park Association, Public Service of the Year Award, 2006; Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition, Diversity Award-Government, 2005; Raritan Valley Community College, Service Award, 2005; National Association of Counties, Building Disaster-Resistant Communities, Leadership Award, 2001.

Freeholder Meeting Schedule

Meet the Freeholders: Click on  the names below to read the individual bio's.