Local government Since 1972, Bass River Township has been governed under the
Walsh Act by a three-member commission. The township is one of 30 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use the
commission form of government. The governing body is comprised of three commissioners, who are elected at-large in
non-partisan elections held every four years as part of the May municipal election to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. Each of the Commissioners is appointed to serve as the head of a designated department. The commissioners choose a mayor, who presides over meetings but has no executive role. and continuing through May 15, 2028, members of the Bass River Township Board of Commissioners are Mayor William R. Adams (Commissioner of Revenue and Finance), Deputy Mayor Louis Bourguignon (Commissioner of Public Works, Parks and Public Property) and Jane Allen (Commissioner of Public Affairs and Public Safety; appointed to serve an unexpired term). In June 2024, Jane Allen was appointed to fill the seat vacated by Nicholas Capriglione when he resigned at the reorganization meeting held the previous month; Allen will serve on an interim basis until the November 2025 general election, when voters will choose a candidate to serve the remainder of the term of office. Bass River Township's municipal court, which it shares with neighboring Washington Township, is located in New Gretna.
Emergency services Like other municipalities in New Jersey without a local police department, Bass River Township is served by troopers from the
New Jersey State Police Troop C which maintains a barrack in Tuckerton. The
New Jersey State Park Police, which operates a station in Washington Township, is responsible for any matters occurring within state forests. The New Gretna Volunteer Fire Company provides fire protection for all of Bass River Township. Additionally the Fire Company provides rescue services and operates an EMS First Response vehicle for medical emergencies. Bass River Township is served by Galloway Township EMS, which also provides primary 911
emergency medical services for the residents of
Galloway Township, New Jersey,
Port Republic, New Jersey and
Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, as well as the campus of
Stockton University.
Federal, state, and county representation Bass River Township is located in the 3rd Congressional district and is part of New Jersey's 8th state legislative district.
Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 892 registered voters in Bass River Township, of which 187 (21.0% vs. 33.3% countywide) were registered as
Democrats, 291 (32.6% vs. 23.9%) were registered as
Republicans and 413 (46.3% vs. 42.8%) were registered as
Unaffiliated. There as one voter registered to another party. Among the township's 2010 Census population, 61.8% (vs. 61.7% in Burlington County) were registered to vote, including 77.4% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 80.3% countywide). In the
2012 presidential election, Republican
Mitt Romney received 371 votes (59.0% vs. 40.2% countywide), ahead of Democrat
Barack Obama with 236 votes (37.5% vs. 58.1%) and other candidates with 15 votes (2.4% vs. 1.0%), among the 629 ballots cast by the township's 945 registered voters, for a turnout of 66.6% (vs. 74.5% in Burlington County). In the
2008 presidential election, Republican
John McCain received 423 votes (60.6% vs. 39.9% countywide), ahead of Democrat Barack Obama with 260 votes (37.2% vs. 58.4%) and other candidates with 12 votes (1.7% vs. 1.0%), among the 698 ballots cast by the township's 917 registered voters, for a turnout of 76.1% (vs. 80.0% in Burlington County). In the
2004 presidential election, Republican
George W. Bush received 408 votes (61.8% vs. 46.0% countywide), ahead of Democrat
John Kerry with 240 votes (36.4% vs. 52.9%) and other candidates with 9 votes (1.4% vs. 0.8%), among the 660 ballots cast by the township's 892 registered voters, for a turnout of 74.0% (vs. 78.8% in the whole county). In the
2013 gubernatorial election, Republican
Chris Christie received 314 votes (72.5% vs. 61.4% countywide), ahead of Democrat
Barbara Buono with 100 votes (23.1% vs. 35.8%) and other candidates with 13 votes (3.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 433 ballots cast by the township's 964 registered voters, yielding a 44.9% turnout (vs. 44.5% in the county). In the
2009 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 298 votes (62.1% vs. 47.7% countywide), ahead of Democrat
Jon Corzine with 140 votes (29.2% vs. 44.5%), Independent
Chris Daggett with 34 votes (7.1% vs. 4.8%) and other candidates with 5 votes (1.0% vs. 1.2%), among the 480 ballots cast by the township's 920 registered voters, yielding a 52.2% turnout (vs. 44.9% in the county). == Education ==