Freeholder Peter S. Palmer and Freeholder Rick Fontana. Somerset County is governed and managed by a Board of Chosen Freeholders. Most other states elect a county commission or county council. Eventually, the number of freeholders in each county was reduced by statute and is now determined by referendum, and cannot exceed nine members.
Freeholders elect from among themselves a director who conducts their meetings.
The Freeholder Director and County Administrator are ex-officio members of each committee. The position of Freeholder is considered part-time, although due to the complexity of County government today, an increasing amount of time is spent by these elected officials on County business. The Clerk of the Board of Freeholders oversees the work of their offices. Department heads are appointed in accordance with statute and by resolution of the board. Somerset County currently employs approximately 1,175 people in about 40 divisions.