Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter Named President of Constitutional Officers Association of NJ (COANJ)

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter was sworn in as President of the Constitutional Officers of New Jersey (COANJ) on Wednesday at their Annual Conference this Wednesday at the Seaview Golf Club in Galloway, NJ. COANJ is the statewide organization of county elected officials serving in offices created by the New Jersey Constitution, including Sheriffs, Surrogates, Clerks, and Registers.

“I am honored to be chosen to lead the Constitutional Officers of New Jersey, and to have the trust of my friends and colleagues who are so committed to delivering the best service for their constituents,” said Clerk Peter. “When I took office as Somerset Clerk one of the first pieces of advice I got was to get involved with COANJ, and after seven years with the organization I can say it was one of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received.”

Clerk Peter was first elected in 2017, and was reelected to a second term in 2022. He has modernized the office’s recording technology, navigated the all-mail COVID election, and is working hard to preserve and publicize the more than 200 years of records including those for the manumission of enslaved residents.

“Steve has been an incredible servant for the people of Somerset County during some extremely challenging years,” said Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson. “We are all proud that COANJ sees what we see in Steve and has made him their president for 2024-2025.”

COANJ also swore in Somerset County Surrogate Tina Jalloh as the section chief for Surrogates for the 2024-2025 year.

The Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersy was established in 1920 to encourage, foster, and maintain high standards of service to the public by county Sheriffs, Surrogates, Clerks, and Registers. Their mission is to establish a cooperative effort among its members ti improve the quality of services provided in their respective counties. The Association holds regular meetings and a yearly educational conference to discuss matters related to the conduct and advancement of methods of filing, recording, and preserving of records matters of land recordation affecting County Clerks and Registers of Deeds and Mortgages, issues affecting Surrogates including trusts, wills and guardianships; and law enforcement matters of concerns to Sheriffs.

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