Somerset County Clerk General Election 2022: Steve Peter

SOMERVILLE, NJ — There are two candidates vying for the Somerset County Clerk position in the Nov. 8 general election.

Democratic incumbent Steve Peter is running against Republican Suzanne Maeder for the seat.

Are you running for office in Somerset County? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Steve Peter

Age: 53

Town of Residence: Somerville

Position Sought: Somerset County Clerk

Party Affiliation: Democratic

Family: Wife (Elizabeth), cat (Corinna)

Education: BA, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, MA, Harvard University

Occupation: Somerset County Clerk; previously programmer and publisher

Previous Elected or Appointed Office: Downtown Somerville Alliance, Somerville Borough Council (President)

Campaign Website: somersetcountydemocrats.org

Why are you seeking to run for County Clerk?

During my first term in office, I modernized the Clerk’s office, putting more records online, streamlining paperwork, instituting credit card payments, and bringing mobile office hours out to the community. There’s still more coming in my second term. We will be digitizing historic records, creating a virtual county museum, and doing so with grant funding to begin this important process to ensure that the taxpayers benefit but are not burdened.

How can you show voters that the election process is safe and secure?

In New Jersey, election duties are split between the Clerk’s office and the Board of Elections to ensure bipartisan oversight of elections. The public is able to observe in person much of what we do, from inspection of the voting machines to watching the tabulation on election night.

To my mind, the optimal voting system is a hand-marked paper ballot that can be scanned for rapid tabulation, but is also easily hand counted during an audit. Unfortunately, statute doesn’t give the clerk a choice in the matter. The Board of Election selects a poll book system and the County Commissioners pick the voting machines.

What is something you would like to accomplish if elected and how?

I have unified and revamped our internal systems, and the process will continue over the next few years. Much of the work of the Clerk’s office is heavily regulated by statute, and so any changes and streamlining must be pursued legislatively. I have been section chief of the Clerks and Recorders for the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey, and now am assuming the role of Secretary for that organization. I have built strong working relationships across the aisle throughout the state and work together to craft legislation in Trenton to allow the clerks to bring their offices into the 21st century.

Anything else you would like to add about yourself?

It has been an honor to serve the people of Somerset County as their clerk for the past five years. I hope I have earned your trust and gained your support for another five years.