Kenneth Armood, Middlesex County Commissioner, dies at 46

Middlesex County Commissioner Kenneth Armwood has died.  He was 46.

Armwood was appointed to fill a vacancy on what was then the Board of Freeholders in 2013 and won full terms in 2013, 2016 and 2019.

“Ken was the future of our Party — a thoughtful leader, an empathetic colleague and one of the kindest, most decent people, who was utterly committed to public service,” said Middlesex County Democratic Chairman Kevin McCabe. “He was a dear friend and one of my closest confidants. In both his political and professional life, he constantly worked to improve the lives of the underserved, especially the many young men and women who benefitted from his counsel. His passing leaves a gaping hole that will not soon be filled.”

Armwood began his political career when he won a Piscataway school board seat at age 19.  He served as a councilman from 2004 to 2013 and was a former council president.

In 1994, one year after his high school graduation, Armwood finished second in a field of six candidates for three Board of Education seats.  He finished about a dozen votes behind incumbent Thomas Renahan and about 75 votes ahead of another incumbent, Robert DePaul.  Armwood defeated Eloise Samuels by around 675 votes.

He won election to the Piscataway Township Council in 2004 on a Demcoratic ticket with Millie Scott, now the Middlesex County Sheriff, and James Huben.  They easily won a contested primary, and won the general election by a 2-1 margin.

Armwood won his first freeholder race in 2013 by 8,939 votes against Republican Roger W. Daley, a former freeholder and retired Superior Court Judge.

He was re-elected in 2016 by 56,222 votes, and in 2019 by 21,028 votes.

“Kenneth Armwood was a lifelong public servant,” said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.  “Ken was a friend to all. He had an infectious, warm personality and a quick smile.  Ken leaves a lasting impact on Middlesex County that won’t soon be forgotten. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time.”

Coughlin praised Armwood’s dedication to education, job training and support for local businesses.

“We see his work shine in the All Children’s Playground at Quibbletown Park, at the Annual Business Summit bringing together business and government partners, and in the vast online programs now available through the Middlesex County Business Portal,” the Assembly Speaker said.

Beatrice Moskowitz, the Middlesex County Democratic vice chair, said that Armwood “represented the best of public service.”

“There was no limit to how far Ken would go to help his community, his constituents and his neighbors,” said Moskowitz. “From serving as a mentor to countless young people to working tirelessly on behalf of all our residents, Ken’s death leaves a huge void in all of our lives.”