Greetings from COANJ!
In the late 1980’s, I watched as my dad was sworn in as president of the Illinois Association of County Officials. As he served, he showed me that by working together with peers throughout the state, they could accomplish more than if they all stayed in their individual counties. At that same conference, I met the County Clerk of Champaign County, Illinois. He hired me as a deputy, and I learned first-hand the operations of a clerk’s office, leading me to run for County Clerk in Somerset County many years later.
When I began as Somerset County Clerk, one of the best pieces of advice I received was, “Get involved in COANJ!” From what I had seen with my dad, I knew that advice was sound, and indeed COANJ has proven its value time and time again. As we faced a global pandemic, I doubt I could have done as well if it hadn’t been for COANJ and the many (too many?) Zoom meetings we had.
As an organization, we are only as strong as the effort we put into it. I’m delighted to be working with a stellar executive committee, Vice President James M. Gannon, Secretary E. Junior Maldonado, and Treasurer Claribel Cortes. Having been a section chief, I know what an arduous task it can be, so I thank our incoming chiefs, Joe Giralo, Atlantic County Clerk, Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Sheriff, and Maureen T. Raisch, Monmouth County Surrogate. And where would we be without the eagle eye of Mary Melfi keeping track on the goings on in Trenton?
Finally, I’d like to thank my wife, Elizabeth, who has to put up with all the time my mind is on COANJ instead of her. I’m looking forward to advocating for all the constitutional officers of New Jersey as we move from 2024 into 2025. Thank you for entrusting me with this awesome responsibility.
Steve Peter
Somerset County Clerk
President COANJ 2024–2025
