James R. Kern III will seek a third term on the Warren County Board of Commissioners with the full support of the county Republican organization, making him an undisputed favorite to win re-election in a county that hasn’t elected a Democrat to countywide office since 1999.
“Our commitment to the taxpayers is paramount and my priority remains providing the most responsible county budget,” Kern said. “Our dedication to fiscal prudence persists by ensuring that all our resources are utilized judiciously and every expenditure scrutinized.”
Kern’s supporters include: State Sen. Doug Steinhardt (R-Lopatcong), the county GOP chairman, Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-Hackettstown), Sheriff Jim McDonald, and his two county commissioner colleagues, Jason Sarnoski and Lori Ciesla. He also announced endorsements form
He began his political career in 2010 as a candidate for the Pohatcong Township Council; at age 21, he was a senior at Rutgers University. Kern was the top vote-getter in a three-way race against two incumbents; he outdistanced Councilman Samuel Souders, Jr. by nearly seventeen percentage points in a non-partisan municipal election.
Kern was elected mayor one year later with 63% against a township police sergeant more than twice his age, Frank Pagano. He was re-elected with 88% of the vote.
After GOP Freeholder Ed Smith declined to seek re-election in 2018, Republicans backed Kern to succeed him. He defeated Democrat John Massaro in 2018 by 22 percentage points. Democrats didn’t run anybody against him in 2021.