Ocean County is governed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders consisting of five members, elected on an at-large basis in partisan elections and serving staggered three-year terms of office, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election.[66] At an annual reorganization held in the beginning of January, the board chooses a Director and a Deputy Director from among its members. As of 2015[update], Ocean County's Freeholders (with party affiliation, term-end year, residence and department directorship listed in parentheses) are Freeholder Director John C. Bartlett, Jr. (R, term ends December 31, 2015, Pine Beach; Finance, Parks and Recreation),[67] Freeholder Deputy Director Gerry P. Little (R, 2015, Surf City; Human Services),[68] John P. Kelly (R, 2016, Eagleswood Township; Law and Public Safety),[69] James F. Lacey (R, 2016, Brick Township; Transportation)[70] and Joseph H. Vicari (R, 2017, Toms River; Senior Services and County Operations).[71][72][73] Constitutional officers elected on a countywide basis are County Clerk Scott M. Colabella (R, 2015, Barnegat Light),[74][75] Sheriff Michael Mastronardy (R, 2016; Toms River)[76] and Surrogate Jeffrey Moran (R, 2018, Beachwood).[77][78]
