Republicans narrowly win in Salem County

Salem County Republicans narrowly won both county commissioner elections on Tuesday, preserving their 5-0 majority on the county governing body in a county where Democrats held seats as recently as four years ago.

Republican Commissioner Ed Ramsay won another three-year term, defeating former Democratic Freeholder Charles Hassler by just 628 votes, 8,662 to 8,034, or 51.76% to 48.01%.

Commissioner Paul Collier won a special election to complete an unexpired term, defeating Democrat John “Buddy” Ayars by 1,261 votes, 9,114 to 7,853, or 53.64% to 46.22%.

The Republican victories extend the GOP’s uninterrupted control of the five-member board, which began in 2022 after years of competitive elections between the two parties.

For Ramsay, the victory was his second general election win over Hassler, whom he unseated in 2020 by approximately 375 votes.

Ramsay also survived a Republican primary challenge earlier this year from construction company owner Lew Merryfield, who had secured the endorsement of fellow Republican Commissioner Dan Timmerman and the top ballot position. Ramsay prevailed decisively.

Collier, a former Lower Alloways Creek mayor, joined the commissioner board in January after Mickey Ostrum resigned to become Salem County Surrogate.

He won a Republican special election convention on the third ballot, defeating Carneys Point Committeeman Wayne Pelura, 33-16, and subsequently secured the Republican nomination for the unexpired term without opposition.

The Republican victories preserve a political transformation completed in 2022, when the GOP captured the open commissioner seat vacated by retiring Democrat Lee Ware.

That victory gave Republicans all five seats on the board, ending the last Democratic presence in Salem County government.

Salem, New Jersey’s least populous county, has historically been politically competitive, with control of county government changing hands as both parties battled for a relatively small electorate.

Tuesday’s results showed that Democrats remain competitive in Salem, coming within 628 votes of winning one seat, but Republicans managed to hold both positions and preserve their complete control of county government.