Gov. Phil Murphy will sign a bill replacing the title of county freeholder with county commissioner later Friday, he announced during today’s COVID-19 briefing.
“I’m going to sign the bill … but it will officially end the title of freeholder in the state of New Jersey, effective January 1, 2021, the title will be county commissioner,” Murphy said. “Incredibly proud of that.”
The governor will be joined at the signing by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-West Deptford), Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick), Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson (D-Trenton), Essex County Freeholder Rufus Johnson and Union County Freeholder Angela Garretson.
The roots of the term freeholder date back to colonial times, when it was used to refer to men who owned land free of debt. Only land-owning white men were given the right to vote then.
Most advocates pushed for the position to be renamed because of its history, though others supported the measure because few New Jerseyans know what a freeholder is.