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Gopal wants Freeholders to be called County Commissioners

State Senator and honorary volunteer firefighter Vin Gopal finds the term “freeholder” offensive and, for Monmouth County voters in particular, confusing.

Gopal co-sponsored a last minute change–a substitution– in legislation that passed in the Senate last week which, if passed in the Assembly and signed by Governor Murphy, will mandate that the name of the office of Freeholder be changed to County Commissioner.

“Commissioner” is even more archaic than “freeholder.”  The origin of the word goes back to Medieval Latin and means one who is anointed with authority.  Typically, a commissioner is appointed, though it has evolved through the ages.  In the 2020’s some commissioners are appointed and some are elected.

Senator Declan O’Scanlon voted in favor of the original bill in committee.  The bill as first proposed gave New Jersey counties the option of changing the name of their freeholders to commissioners. O’Scanlon voted no after the language was changed to a mandate.

Monmouth County Freeholder Gerry Scharfenberger, an archaeologist who knows about archaic stuff, said the proposal to change the term is “mindboggling in its absurdity” and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

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Posted: April 20th, 2018 | Author: | Filed under: Monmouth County News, New Jersey | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments »

9 Comments on “Gopal wants Freeholders to be called County Commissioners”

  1. Broken record. said at 10:59 am on April 20th, 2018:

    Ex- Freeholder D’Amico tried that years ago. This is just another waste of time and tax money, and another lib agitation method, to further divide and razz people up, when these people should be trying to unite folks and make lives easier, and CHEAPER, to try and continue to live here. Am sick of these diversionary and useless bills which do nothing to help anyone! Anybody calculate how much it would cost in IT work, printing costs, and legal work for the 21 counties if this dopey thing goes through?? Forget what they are called: concentrate on what they are supposed to DO to SERVE us!!

  2. Proud Republican said at 12:52 pm on April 20th, 2018:

    This is what democrats do. Latch on to some meaningless issue to make it appear that they are doing something. In the meantime the state continues to go down in flames.

  3. Of All The Stupid, Lame Brained Wasteful Ideas said at 1:31 pm on April 20th, 2018:

    That the Democrats come up with, the pull this crap out of their hat. Now you know why Gopal and crew should have lost. Motor Voter Registration, Aid For Illegals and now this.

    They don’t give a crap about the costs that will be incurred by taxpayers if this bill passes, all the while we choke on existing taxes.

    You don’t vote or forgot to vote you say?

    This is what happens.

  4. Hey genius Gopal said at 7:31 pm on April 20th, 2018:

    I’ll make you a deal. If you find a way to lower my obscene taxes, I’ll promise to tough it out with the word “freeholder” on the ballot.

  5. Bob English said at 8:29 pm on April 20th, 2018:

    Since it passed the Senate by a vote of 27-4 it appears that there was overwhelming bipartisan support for the change

  6. Proud Republican said at 8:48 pm on April 20th, 2018:

    All that means is that there are dumbasses on both sides of the aisle

  7. Fire Chief said at 2:12 am on April 21st, 2018:

    Honorary volunteer fireman? Hardly. He shouldn’t disgrace the profession by even trying to claim that. What a total joke

  8. Name (required) said at 3:02 am on April 21st, 2018:

    Changing the name now will confuse voters more than ever. “Freeholder” is a distinctive and standout term used for an office that everyone in the state is aware of. If it is changed, people will be searching for the correct slot when they enter the voting booths.

    The confusion will affect votes cast, without question. It’s that simple.

    This is nothing more than a sleazy-ass trick by Gopal to confuse the electorate. It’s crap, and it’s dirty.

  9. Steve Adams said at 1:47 pm on April 26th, 2018:

    The title is less important than the performance and the integrity of the individuals elected as public servants.

    If the Freeholders which control Brookdale trustees are willing to have the largest building on their public campus named after a well know freeholder that was a crook, little matters.

    Harry Larrison was a crook and has his name immortalized on the largest building on the Brookdale campus. How does that make any sense? Where is the integrity in allowing that in a place where young students are developing their individual standards for integrity?