The new executive slate of New Jersey Association of Counties will be led by a Warren County commissioner and popular community cross-pollinator.
Warren County Commissioner James R. Kern III will become the 85th president of the New Jersey Association of Counties, making him only the second legislator from Warren County to hold the presidency.
The first president of NJAC representing Warren County was Warren County Freeholder Richard D. Gardner in 2012.
Gardner celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by friends and family Warren County on Jan. 13.
As leader of the New Jersey Association of Counties, Kern will be positioned to draft and develop legislative position statements on the counties’ behalf; speak at State House committee meetings and public hearings; lead workshops and brainstorming sessions; and advocate on behalf of county programs and initiatives.
“I look forward to leading this exceptional organization as it continues to serve as a steadfast advocate and trusted resource for county governments across the state, with a unified, solution-driven, and nonpartisan approach to solving critical issues such as the diversion of 911 fees, homelessness, health benefits reform, and much more,” Kern said in a statement.
New Jersey state Sen. Douglas Steinhart was scheduled to administer the oath during the swearing-in ceremony for Kern in Trenton on Friday.
Kern was the vice president of the organization in 2025, serving beside former president Shanel Y. Robison, Somerset County commissioner. Robison will take a regular role on the executive slate in 2026.
He said his first priorities in the role are to examine remitting 911 fees to the counties and municipalities that pay toward them, researching the health care benefits crisis taking place in New Jersey and leading the counties and local governments toward a fiscally responsible year.
The new executive slate includes Union County Commissioner Alexander Mirabella as first vice president, Monmouth County Commissioner Dominick DiRocco as second vice president, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur as secretary treasurer.
Kern, 37, was born and raised in Phillipsburg and is a familiar face around the county.
He graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 2006. He attended Warren County Community College, attaining an associate’s in liberal arts, before graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in political science. He won his first public election to the role of township committee member that same year, in 2010.
He was elected mayor of Pohatcong Township the following year when he was only 22 years old while still living at home with his parents and working a part-time job as a front-end runner at ShopRite of Greenwich.
After several years as mayor, he ran and was elected county freeholder, now called “commissioner” of Warren County in 2018.
His other day job is as vice president, business underwriter, for Chubb, an American-Swiss insurance provider.
Kern moved out of his childhood home, still owned by his parents, several years ago. He now lives in Harmony Township with his wife.
