MANVILLE: Rocky Hill mayor files for freeholder

   Rocky Hill Mayor Ed Zimmerman filed as a nonpartisan candidate for the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and will be on the November ballot as an independent.
   Elected as an independent to his second four-year term as mayor in 2010, Mr. Zimmerman said he believes Somerset County is well run overall, “but there is always room for improvement.”
   ”Most of the issues at the county level, like controlling spending, road repairs and plowing, parks, open space and recycling are not partisan issues,” Mr. Zimmerman said, adding that “fresh eyes and no partisan ties will help take this county even further as a role model to others.”
   Two three-year seats will be decided in the fall. Incumbents Patrick Scaglione of Bridgewater Township and former Montgomery Mayor Mark Caliguire were unopposed for Republican nominations on Tuesday. Bound Brook Councilman Anthony Pranzatelli and William Galtieri of Franklin Township won Democratic nods without a contest.
   Mr. Scaglione has served since January 2010. Mr. Caliguire was elected by party insiders at a special convention in December following the elevation of Jack Ciattarelli of Hillsborough to Assemblyman in January as part of the ramifications of the death of Assemblyman Peter Biondi of Hillsborough.
   Mr. Zimmerman currently serves as president of the Somerset County Governing Officials Association, vice chairman of the Raritan and Millstone River Flood Commission, a member of the Board of Directors and Legislative Committee of the N.J. Conference of Mayors and the emergency management coordinator for Rocky Hill.
   He works as a management consultant specializing in government operational efficiency and productivity for a Princeton-based consulting firm.
   In 2008, Mayor Zimmerman was the first mayor to file a complaint with the Council on Local Mandates, whose decision overturned a state budget line item that municipalities using State Police for police coverage be required to pay a fee to the state. A total of 89 municipalities in the state avoided the cost with the council’s decision.