Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden was recently sworn in as the newly elected president of the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey (COANJ) during its annual conference in Atlantic City.
COANJ, which was formed in 1920, is a statewide organization comprised of the elected constitutional officers of all 21 counties. The membership includes sheriffs, county surrogates, county clerks and registers of deeds and mortgages, according to a press release.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the president of COANJ in the upcoming year,” Golden said. “In these times of economic uncertainty, it is incumbent upon us to do more with less, to promote shared services within our counties and to serve as examples to others of what effective and ethical leadership in public service should be.”
COANJ establishes a collaborative effort among its members to improve and maintain services in their respective counties, share information, develop solutions and discuss and advocate legislation, according to the press release.
Members meet quarterly during the year. The two-day conference is held annually in Atlantic City, where the reorganization of the executive board takes place.
Prior to becoming the president of COANJ, Golden served as the vice president. He is completing his first term as Monmouth County sheriff after being elected to the post in 2011. Golden was a career law enforcement officer for 18 years, serving as a police officer in Colts Neck and Toms River. He worked as a certified paramedic for MONOC, serving Monmouth and Ocean counties, and was a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician.
Golden takes over the reigns as president from Monmouth County Surrogate Rosemarie Peters. Somerset County Clerk Brett A. Radi will serve as vice president, Gloucester County Surrogate Helene M. Reed will serve a secretary, and Hunterdon County Clerk Mary Melfi will serve as treasurer of the COANJ.
“Although our constitutional positions differ in scope and responsibilities, they all have one thing in common, service to the people,” Golden said. “By sharing our common experiences with each other in effectively delivering services to our constituents, we can continually anticipate and meet the everchanging needs and challenges our offices present.”