Barbara Netchert, former Hudson County Clerk, dies at 76

Barbara Netchert, a longtime Hudson County Democratic political figure who served as Hudson County Clerk for a decade after holding senior positions in Jersey City government, died on October 13 after a lengthy battle with cancer.  She was 76.

Netchert served as county clerk from 2007 to 2017, overseeing the county office responsible for administering elections, maintaining public records and processing a variety of official documents.

Gov. Jon Corzine appointed her to the post in 2007 at the request of Hudson County Democratic leaders, succeeding Javier Inclan, who had been offered a position in the Corzine administration.

Her selection came amid political maneuvering within the Hudson County Democratic Organization, where competing factions initially disagreed over who should receive the appointment.

An ally of then-County Executive Thomas DeGise, Netchert emerged as a leading candidate during negotiations involving several prominent Democratic officials.  Her prospective appointment also became entangled in a dispute over whether Corzine had adequately consulted county party leaders before moving forward.

Other candidates considered for the clerk’s position included Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos and Deputy County Clerk Mary Jane Desmond, a former Bayonne councilwoman.

Netchert ultimately secured the appointment and went on to win election to the office, remaining county clerk until she retired in 2017.   Junior Maldonado, a former freeholder and Jersey City councilman, succeeded her and is now in his ninth year as county clerk.

Before taking county office, Netchert spent nearly two decades in Jersey City government, where she played a significant role in economic development and redevelopment initiatives.

She began her government career in 1989 at the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and eventually became its executive director. She later served as director of the city’s Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, putting her at the center of municipal development and housing policy.

Her career spanned a period of substantial political and economic change in Jersey City, including the transformation of former industrial properties into residential and commercial developments.

Netchert was part of Hudson County’s Democratic political establishment during an era when countywide offices were often decided through negotiations among municipal party leaders, mayors, and other elected officials.