Balvir Singh | |
---|---|
Member of the Burlington County Board of County Commissioners | |
Assumed office January 3, 2018 | |
Member of Board of Education,Burlington Township | |
In office January 7,2015 –December 31,2017 | |
Personal details | |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Sandeep Kaur (m. 2010) |
Children | 4 |
Education | Burlington City High School The College of New Jersey (BA) Rutgers University (M.Sc.) |
Website | www |
Balvir Singh is a teacher and Democratic politician from Burlington Township,New Jersey who has served on the Burlington County Board of County Commissioners since 2018. [1] Singh is the first Asian American to win a countywide election in Burlington County and the first Sikh American to win a countywide election in New Jersey. [2]
In 2014,Singh was elected to the board of education of the Burlington Township School District,coming in third place of the five candidates seeking three open seats. [3] [4] As a board member,Singh served as Chair of the school district's finance committee. Over the three years Singh served in that role,taxes and overall spending increases were contained within the school district's budgets each year. [5] [6] [7]
Singh announced his intention to run for Burlington County Board of County Commissioners in March 2017 with running mate Tom Pullion. During the course of the campaign,Singh criticized the all-Republican Burlington County Board for focusing on bringing warehouse jobs to the region,stating that these types of businesses attract unskilled laborers and create traffic in local communities. [8] Singh was criticized by his Republican opponents for his support of tax increases while on the Burlington Township Board of Education and for his support of gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy. The Republicans also ran social media ads claiming that Singh would harbor criminal immigrants and support sanctuary city policies if elected. [9] [10] Singh stated after the election that such immigration policies fall out his jurisdiction as a Freeholder,and therefore were irrelevant points to be made. [10] [9]
In October 2017,it was revealed by the Burlington County Times that the Burlington County Democratic Committee sent more funds outside of the county to assist New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney than they spent within the county to support Singh and Pullion's election. [11] On election day,Singh and Pullion were declared the victors by a narrow margin in an election where voter turnout was at a record low. [12] [13] [1]
Singh was sworn in to the Burlington County Board of County Commissioners on January 3,2018. The oath of office was administered by Central New Jersey politician Vin Gopal,who was then Senator-Elect for New Jersey's 11th Legislative District. [14] Gopal is the first Indian-American to be elected to New Jersey's State Senate, [15]
Singh voted in favor of the 2018 County budget,which resulted in a reduction in property taxes. [16] The budget also called for a cut in the amount of money going into the Burlington County farmland preservation and open space fund since only two farms had applied for the program during the 2018 fiscal year,and neither accepted the county's offer. [17]
At the March 19,2018 Board meeting,Republican Commissioner introduced a resolution to expand the Burlington County Women's Advisory Council's size from 15 to 20 members. Singh and Pullion expressed concern that current members were being dismissed and that new members were being chosen without a public advertisement of the vacancies. The resolution passed along a party-line vote. [18] [19]
On June 13,2018,Singh and Pullion cast dissenting votes on a motion to grant an $89,500 contract for architectural services for security studies within the schools of Burlington County. During the meeting,a resident addressed the Board and alleged that the firm had donated to Republican campaigns in the past. [20] Singh and Pullion cited the firm that was granted the contract,alleging that the appointment was made for political reasons. [17]
In January 2019,Singh joined with fellow Democrats on the Board to rescind the county's so-called "double dipper ban," which would prohibit Burlington County from employing any individual already collecting a taxpayer-funded pension unless they agreed to freeze their pension payments. Singh argued that the ban prevented hiring experienced individuals for publicly funded jobs within the county. [21]
Balvir Singh was born in India,and immigrated to US during childhood with his family. He grew up in a one-bedroom apartment in Burlington City. [9] Singh has been married to his wife,Sandeep Kaur,since 2010. The couple have four children:son Gaganjeet Singh,daughter Gurleen Kaur,son Avijeet Singh,and daughter Avleen Kaur.
Burlington County is a county in the South Jersey region of the U.S. state of New Jersey. The county is the largest by land area in New Jersey. Its county seat is Mount Holly. As of the 2020 census,the county was the state's 11th-most-populous county,with a population of 461,860,its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 13,126 (+2.9%) from the 2010 census count of 448,734,which in turn reflected an increase of 25,340 (6.0%) from the 423,394 enumerated in the 2000 census. The most populous place in the county was Evesham Township with 46,826 residents as of the 2020 census. Washington Township covered 102.71 square miles (266.0 km2),the largest area of any municipality in the county.
Beverly is a city in Burlington County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the city's population was 2,499,a decrease of 78 (−3.0%) from the 2010 census count of 2,577,which in turn reflected a decline of 84 (−3.2%) from the 2,661 counted in the 2000 census.
Chesterfield Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 9,422,an increase of 1,723 (+22.4%) from the 2010 census count of 7,699,which in turn reflected an increase of 1,744 (+29.3%) from the 5,955 counted in the 2000 census.
Eastampton Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 6,191,an increase of 122 (+2.0%) from the 2010 census count of 6,069,which in turn reflected a decline of 133 (−2.1%) from the 6,202 counted in the 2000 census.
Edgewater Park is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey and a northeastern Delaware Valley suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 8,930,an increase of 49 (+0.6%) from the 2010 census count of 8,881,which in turn reflected an increase of 1,017 (+12.9%) from the 7,864 counted in the 2000 census.
Fieldsboro is a borough in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the borough's population was 526,a decrease of 14 (−2.6%) from the 2010 census count of 540,which in turn reflected an increase of 18 (+3.4%) from the 522 counted in the 2000 census.
Lumberton is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Delaware Valley / Philadelphia metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 12,803,an increase of 244 (+1.9%) from the 2010 census count of 12,559,which in turn reflected an increase of 2,098 (+20.1%) from the 10,461 counted at the 2000 census.
Maple Shade Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 19,980,an increase of 849 (+4.4%) from the 2010 census count of 19,131,which in turn reflected an increase of 0.3% from the 19,079 counted at the 2000 census.
North Hanover Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 7,963,an increase of 285 (+3.7%) from the 2010 census count of 7,678,which in turn reflected an increase of 331 (+4.5%) from the 7,347 counted in the 2000 census.
Southampton Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 10,317,a decrease of 147 (−1.4%) from the 2010 census count of 10,464,which in turn reflected an increase of 76 (+0.7%) from the 10,388 counted in the 2000 census.
Springfield Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 3,245,a decrease of 169 (−5.0%) from the 2010 census count of 3,414,which in turn reflected an increase of 187 (+5.8%) from the 3,227 counted in the 2000 census.
Washington Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 693,an increase of 6 (+0.9%) from the 2010 census count of 687,which in turn reflected an increase of 66 (+10.6%) from the 621 counted in the 2000 census.
Westampton is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 9,121,an increase of 308 (+3.5%) from the 2010 census count of 8,813,which in turn reflected an increase of 1,596 (+22.1%) from the 7,217 counted in the 2000 census.
Bass River Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 1,355,a decrease of 88 (−6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 1,443,which in turn reflected a decline of 67 (−4.4%) from the 1,510 counted in the 2000 census.
Burlington Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia and is part of the South Jersey region of the state. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 23,983,its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 1,389 (+6.1%) from the 2010 census count of 22,594,which in turn reflected an increase of 2,300 (+11.3%) from the 20,294 counted in the 2000 census.
Evesham Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a suburb of Philadelphia,the nation's sixth-most populous city. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 46,826,an increase of 1,288 (+2.8%) from the 2010 census count of 45,538,which in turn reflected an increase of 3,263 (+7.7%) from the 42,275 counted in the 2000 census. Colloquially,the area is referred to as Marlton,the name of a community within the township.
Hainesport Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 6,035,a decline of 75 (-1.2%) from the 2010 census enumeration of 6,110,in turn reflecting an increase of 1,984 (+48.1%) from the 4,126 counted in the 2000 census.
Mansfield Township is a township in Burlington County,in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census,the township's population was 8,897,an increase of 353 (+4.1%) from the 2010 census count of 8,544,which in turn reflected an increase of 3,454 (+67.9%) from the 5,090 counted in the 2000 census.
Joseph Howarth Jr. is an American Republican Party politician who represented the 8th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since he was sworn into office on January 12,2016. Howarth lost re-election in the 2019 GOP primary. He left office on January 14,2020.
Serena DiMaso is an American Republican Party politician who represented the 13th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2018 to 2022. She replaced Declan O'Scanlon,who ran successfully for a seat in the New Jersey Senate. DiMaso had previously served on the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and as mayor of Holmdel Township. In June 2021,DiMaso lost the Republican Primary to Holmdel Board of Education President Vicky Flynn. DiMaso left office in January 2022.