From Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling’s office:
MORRIS COUNTY SURROGATE DARLING NAMED AS COANJ PRESIDENT 2023-2024
Morris County Surrogate Heather J. Darling, Esq., was named president of the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey (COANJ) on Thursday.
After completing her terms as vice president and secretary and section chief of the surrogates, Surrogate Darling was nominated and elected to the new position by the organization and took the oath as president at the annual conference, held in Galloway, NJ, on Sept. 21, 2023.
COANJ is the formal organization of New Jersey sheriffs, county clerks, surrogates and registers of deeds and mortgages, who are elected directly by the people of each of the 21 New Jersey counties.
“It is an absolute honor for me to be selected to lead as the president of an organization
of offices so vital to our state and its 9.5 million residents,” said Darling.
She went on to thank the former COANJ president, Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, for his leadership, enthusiasm, and support while she served as vice president.
Darling looks forward to continuing the traditions of COANJ along with the newly elected vice president, Somerset County Clerk Steve Peter; Secretary James Gannon, the Morris County sheriff; and the new treasurer, Hudson County Clerk E. Junior Maldonado; as well as the new section chiefs and executive board. She said she will work to lead change in a way that will best serve local communities and the state of New Jersey.
COANJ was organized in 1920 and its members work in cooperation to improve services rendered to their respective counties. Members meet regularly on matters of importance relating to the management of their offices, to provide feedback for legislation in relation to the conduct of all the statutory requirements and duties relating to the offices of the sheriffs, county clerks, surrogates and registers of deeds and mortgages in the state; and to encourage and maintain high standards of service.
