Freeholder Kenneth Armwood

By June 24, 2019 Middlesex County Freeholders Charles Kenny and Kenneth Armwood, Sheriff Mildred Scott, and Claribel Azcona-Barber, the county pick to replace retiring Freeholder Blanquita Valenti, have won their primary.Azcona-Barber defeated former Perth Amboy councilman Joel Pabon to gain the backing of her party organization in March.Azcona-Barber has spent nineteen years as a Democratic county committeewoman from New Brunswick. She has served as a legislative aide to Assemblyman Joseph Egan (D-New Brunswick), as an executive assistant to the New Jersey Secretary of State, and on the staffs of Governors James E. McGreevey and Jon Corzine.Freeholder Armwood is a lifelong resident of Piscataway and a graduate of Rutgers University, and was elected to the Council in 2004. He served as Council President in 2008 and 2013.A lifelong Woodbridge resident, Freeholder Kenny is a graduate of Middlesex County College. Since 1995, he has served his hometown as Chief of Woodbridge Fire District #1.

Kenny has also served as Woodbridge Council President in 2003 and 2013.Sheriff Scott was elected as the first female Sheriff for the county of Middlesex and the first African American Sheriff in the state of New Jersey in 2011.

Middlesex County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders, whose seven members are elected at-large on a partisan basis to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either two or three seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election. At an annual reorganization meeting held in January, the board selects from among its members a Freeholder.

Edison, NJ - Middlesex County Freeholder Director Ronald G. Rios unveiled the County’s initiatives and goals for the coming year at the 2020 Reorganization of the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders. The event was held on January 7 at Middlesex County College in Edison.Mr. Rios was once again elected to serve as Director by his colleagues and newly re-elected Freeholder Kenneth Armwood was sworn in as Deputy Director.Governor Phil Murphy and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin both spoke at the event and offered their support and hopes for 2020 in Middlesex County.“The reorganization of the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders will create and renew relationships that allow us to work together toward common goals for New Jerseyans,” said Mr. “I am looking forward to seeing how this dedicated and committed group of leaders build on their accomplishments and continue to move Middlesex County forward.”'Middlesex County's governance and stewardship continues to be a model which all counties should emulate. Tonight's Reorganization ceremony and the Freeholder Director's remarks illustrate constant progress and focus on the things that matter to the taxpayers of Middlesex County. I am fortunate to have great County partners and look forward to our work in the year ahead,” said Mr.

Rios announced that this year’s overarching theme for upcoming programs and developments is “Middlesex County is where excellence becomes reality.”“In the year ahead, our County will continue to innovate and envision new possibilities to preserve and enhance the County’s tradition of excellence, and reputation as a premier destination for businesses, residents, and visitors,” said Freeholder Director Rios.Mr. Rios shared that in 2020, the County would continue to strive for excellence in health care through the partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health at the George J.

Center for Mental Health Care, as well as through the partnership with RWJBarnabas Health at the Roosevelt Care Centers in Edison and Old Bridge. He also announced that effective January 22, 2020, RWJBarnabas Health will assume active management responsibility for all operations at the Roosevelt Care Centers in Edison and Old Bridge.Building upon the research done through the County’s Destination 2040 Planning Initiative, and the Workforce and Economic Competitiveness Project led by Dr. Carl Van Horn, the County, through the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, will launch a new economic development strategy in 2020.Finally, at the Reorganization Meeting, the Board adopted a new organizational structure for the County, and officially launched the Middlesex County Department of Transportation.