Most people know that their municipality has a mayor and governing body. In New Jersey, county government also plays an important role in providing services to residents.

Somerset County is governed and managed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders. The board consists of five members; one or two are elected each year from the county at large to serve three-year terms.

County government provides regional services that municipalities could not otherwise offer individually. These include county road and bridge maintenance, curbside recycling collection, transportation services for elderly and disabled residents, education, recreation and nutrition programs for seniors, a county park system, regional planning initiatives, and many others.

There also are three elected Constitutional Officers: the County Clerk, Sheriff and Surrogate. The County Clerk records deeds and takes passport applications; the Sheriff's Office serves summonses and operates the County Jail; and the Surrogate handles wills and adoptions.