Elected Officials

Elected November 2009. Term Expires December 2012.

As a Foreman Carpenter for over 25 years, Garganio represents the heart and soul of the blue collar Burlington County riverfront.

Bruce’s combination of government experience along with his oversight role with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters uniquely prepares him for service on the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders.

As a community leader in his hometown of Florence, Bruce has served on the Florence Township Civic Association, the Florence Twp. Board of Education, the Florence Township Planning Board, the Florence Township Council.

Bruce has called Florence home his whole life, and along with his wife Linda, have raised their two daughters there. His eldest daughter is already playing softball for her University, and younger daughter Kelly, hopes to follow in her footsteps this fall.

Elected November 2008. Term Expires December 2011.

Born and raised in Atlantic County, Brown earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from The College of New Jersey in Ewing and also studied business law at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison. He started a title insurance firm, Guardian Settlement Agents, as a part-time business in 1998 while he was working as a real estate manager for a local law firm.

After Guardian became a full-time job and led to the creation of a general insurance agency, Guardian Property & Casualty, Brown began acquiring RE/MAX real estate offices, first in South Jersey and then throughout the state.

He currently is a Burlington County Freeholder after having served as Deputy Mayor in his hometown of Evesham Township. As a Freeholder, Brown has immediate oversight over the Corrections and Education departments of County government, including all prison facilities, the prosecutor’s office, the court system and the three county schools.

In both of his governmental positions – as Freeholder and as Deputy Mayor – Brown has donated his salary to local charitable causes. He also has been honored for his work with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and has been active for many years with the One Child Saved youth service organization.

Brown lives in Evesham with his wife, Deanna Fahy-Brown – who serves as Chief Financial Officer for the Castle holding company – and their three children.

Re-Elected November 2010. Term Expires December 2013.

A former Mayor of Cinnaminson Township, Joseph B. Donnelly was elected Director in his second year as a member of the board. He served as Deputy Director in 2008. Donnelly ran for Freeholder on a promise to cut the county property tax levy and usher in a series of good government reforms, and he has kept his word.

Under his leadership, Burlington is the only county in the State to cut the county property tax levy and the rate three years in a row, and currently spends fewer tax dollars per person than any county in New Jersey.

In an effort to lead by example, Donnelly voluntarily cut his own Freeholder salary in half and refused health benefits courtesy of property taxpayers. Despite opposition from Democrats on the Freeholder Board, Donnelly’s leadership convinced his fellow Freeholders to do the same.

Donnelly is a Senior Sales Manager with Hubbell, Inc., an electrical manufacturer based in Milford, CT. He comes to the freeholder board with a wealth of local government experience, having logged a total nine years as a member of Riverton Borough Council, and later Cinnaminson Township Committee. Most recently, he helped spearhead a $100 million redevelopment project on Route 130 in Cinnaminson that includes new commercial and residential development, and major highway improvements. Freeholder Donnelly is a former member of the County Agricultural Development Board and the Cinnaminson Board of Fire Commissioners, and is active in local youth sports and his church, St. Charles Borromeo R.C. Church. In addition to his Administration-related duties, he oversees the Departments of Economic Development, Engineering, Highway and Solid Waste.

Elected November 2009. Term Expires December 2012.

Born and raised on the Burlington County riverfront and now residing in Medford Township, Mary Ann O’Brien has deep roots in Burlington County. Mary Ann attended St. Casimir’s Elementary School and Holy Cross High School, before completing her first year of college at our very own, Burlington County College.

Eventually, Mary Ann completed her Bachelor’s degree, at Pennsylvania State University, in General Arts and Sciences with a minor in Political Science. Following that, she went on to receive her JD and M.B.A. from University of Dayton Ohio. When she moved back to NJ from Ohio in 1984, she began practicing law, and has since worked in prominent firms throughout the State.

She currently practices at Crammer, Bishop, Marczyk & O’Brien in Medford. Mary Ann volunteers her time as an organist at several local parishes and is the Director of Music for Holy Name in Delran and St. Casimir in Riverside.

As a former Councilwoman, Mary Ann served on the Planning Board, and acted as co-liaison for the Economic Development Commission and Senior Citizen Advisory Board. She is a member of Medford Cultural Arts, Medford Business Association, and Medford Historical Society.

Mary Ann lives with her husband Tim, and son Dan, a junior at UPenn.

Re-elected November 2009. Term Expires December 2011.

Dawn Marie Addiego’s career in public service began after winning election to the Evesham Township Council in 1993 and has been on the rise ever since. Following her time in Evesham, Addiego was twice re-elected as a Burlington County Freeholder. She stepped down from the Freeholder Board after being elected to the State Assembly in 2007. In 2010 she moved from the Assembly to the Senate to fill the vacated seat created when Phil Haines stepped down to become a judge.

Addiego has proud of history of involvement in numerous civic and charitable organizations in Burlington County, including United Way of Burlington County, Burlington County Advisory Council on Women, and the Center for the Arts of Southern New Jersey, where she has been a member of the Board of Directors and Chairwoman of their annual Run for the Roses fundraiser since 2003. She is co-founder and vice-president of an animal adoption center in South Jersey and has been honored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars with their Americanism Award in 2002, and as Legislator of the Year by the Beyond the Glass Ceiling Organization, which honors influential women in public life.

Addiego earned an accounting degree at Villanova University and a law degree at Widener University School of Law. She and her husband, Dan, are the proud parents of a daughter, Morgan Maree.

Re-Elected November 2007.  Term Expires December 2011.

Diane Allen is known by many titles: corporate President, working mother, pilot, sharpshooter, daredevil hang-glider, Emmy award-winning TV News Journalist, Quaker Sunday School teacher, and Senator.

Born in New Jersey, she has lived in Burlington County for more than 50 years. Diane was a National Merit Scholar Finalist, who graduated from Moorestown High School as valedictorian. After majoring first in physics and math at Bucknell University, she ultimately received a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Bucknell. Following graduation in 1970, she began her illustrious broadcasting career.

In 1994 Diane went to work full time in her own media production company, which she founded in 1982.

November, 1995, Diane was elected to represent the Seventh District of the New Jersey State Assembly and took office in January, 1996. In June, 1996, Diane was appointed chairperson of the Assembly Advisory Council on Women.

Diane was elected in the New Jersey State Senate in November of 1997 and became a Senator in January of 1998. During her first 4 years in the Senate, she had more bills signed into law than any other legislator. In 2003 Diane served in the Senate leadership position of Republican Conference Leader. She is currently Deputy Minority Leader, a member of the Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee and the Senate Education Committee. Diane was appointed to the Joint Committee on the Public Schools in 2008. She has served on New Jersey’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission since 1998, was appointed to the New Jersey Council of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs in 2004. In spring of 2009, Diane was elected as a Co-Chair of the Women's Legislative Caucus. As a State Senator, Diane continues to serve her constituency and champion solutions to the toughest issues that face New Jerseyans today. She currently serves on the Senate Health & Senior Services, Education, and Military & Veterans Affairs Committees.

Diane lives with her husband Sam in Edgewater Park. Their daughter, Sara, spent 10 years as a successful Broadcast Journalist. She now runs her own company in Houston, Texas. Their son, Leeds, is an electrical engineer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Re-elected November 2009.  Term Expires December 2011.

After graduating from West Virginia University, Assembly Scott Rudder started his career working for Congressman Jim Saxton on military and veteran’s issues in Washington, DC.  He returned home to settle in Medford – the town he grew up in – and took a position on the staff of then-Assembly Speaker Jack Collins, where he focused on transportation and veterans issues.

Rudder fulfilled a lifelong dream when he was elected Councilman in his hometown of Medford in 1997.  He served ten years in local government, three years as Mayor, and helped to launch the township’s wildly successful farmland and open space preservation program to protect the community’s rural charm and character.

A veteran of the NJ National Guard, Rudder has spent the past six years as a Manager of Business Development for Lockheed Martin.  His proudest achievement, however, is being father of his three wonderful children.

Re-Elected November 2010.  Term Expires December 2013.

Jean Stanfield continued a proud tradition of strong female leadership in the Burlington County Republican Party when she was elected Sheriff in 2001, after serving as Undersheriff to then Sheriff Gary Daniels.

Stanfield has formed a County Terrorism Task Force to prepare the county in case of terrorist attack, has aggressively pursued deadbeat parents for failure to pay child support, and has worked with local police chief’s to combat gang violence countywide.  She recently succeeded in getting NJ Transit to step up patrols on the Riverline light rail to improve the experience for passengers. 

Additionally, Stanfield has built upon the success of past Republican Sheriff’s by continuing to provide many programs and services to county residents of all ages – from a Child Safety Seat Program, to a Youth Police Academy, to an Explorer Post, as well as a variety of D.A.R.E. and Mentoring Programs.  Each year, Stanfield’s Department also coordinates a Holiday Toy Drive to make sure that each child in our county has an opportunity to enjoy the holiday season.

Elected November 2006. Term Expires December 2011.

George T. Kotch has been a practicing attorney for 44 years and has managed his own successful law firm for over 30 years.

He has been the Burlington County Surrogate Judge since 2007, after a distinguished 3 years as Burlington County Prosecutor.

Truly a home-town boy, George was born in a house in Roebling and has lived in Burlington County his entire life.

George attended St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia on an academic scholarship and graduated with a degree in Accounting. He then received his Juris Doctor from Rutgers University, Camden Law School.

He is a member of the American, New Jersey and Burlington County Bar Associations, The Association of Trial Lawyers, St. Joseph’s University Accounting Alumni Association, Sullivan Law Society, Former House Counsel to the American Legion baseball program of NJ, Former Chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Committee for the Burlington County Bar Assoc. and is certified by the NJ Supreme Court as a specialist in Workers’ Compensation and admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States.

The proud father or four and grandfather of eleven, George lives in Burlington Township with his wife Therese.

Elected November 2008. Term Expires December 2013.

Elected November 2010. Term Expires December 2012.

Jon Runyan, 36, was born in Flint, Michigan. His father worked for General Motors for nearly 30 years and his Mom largely stayed home and raised Jon and his two younger twin brothers. Jon earned a scholarship to the University of Michigan to play football, becoming the first person in his family to attend college. At Michigan, Jon studied Kinesiology. More recently, Jon studied Entrepreneurial Management at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia.

Jon was drafted out of Michigan by the Houston Oilers (now Tennessee Titans) in 1996 and helped the Titans reach the Super Bowl in 2000. Jon then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he enjoyed a stellar career as a Pro-Bowl offensive tackle, who helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance in 2004. Jon was widely regarded as one of the team’s most popular players due to his work ethic and tenacity on the field, and his active involvement in his community off the field. Jon retired from football at the end of the 2010 season.

Jon’s involvement in and passion for countless charities is well-known in the Philadelphia-South Jersey area. Jon has worked with the NJ Special Olympics, USO, Leukemia-Lymphoma Society, the American Red Cross, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He is also a Board Member for the Alzheimer’s Association of the Delaware Valley and a five-time host of his own “Score for the Cure” Golf Tournament benefitting prostate cancer research here in New Jersey.

Jon currently resides in Mount Laurel Township with his wife Loretta and three children, Jon, Jr., Alyssa and Isabella.

Re-Elected November 2008.  Term Expires December 2010.

As a Member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey, Chris Smith has championed the rights and interests of many - from children forced to toil in sweatshops to women kidnapped and sold into lives of prostitution to unborn children whose opportunity for life is threatened.  Congressman Chris Smith has dedicated his life to protecting human rights and helping the world’ most vulnerable.

Chris Smith has represented the citizens of New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District since 1981, when he was sworn into office at the age of 27. Throughout his 25 years of service, he has established himself as one of the hardest- working, most compassionate and dedicated members of the House.

Re-Elected November 2008.  Term Expires December 2010.

U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo has been a lifelong resident of Southern New Jersey and a successful small businessman who worked for 26 years at his family owned and operated trucking company.  LoBiondo is also an active participant in numerous civic and charitable efforts.  Building on these accomplishments, he chose to continue his community service by entering public life.  LoBiondo has been elected to serve the area on the county and state levels, first on the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1985-87 and then in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the First Legislative District from 1988-1994.  In November 1994, Frank won election as the U.S. Representative from the Second Congressional District.  During his time in Congress, LoBiondo has earned a reputation as an independent voice fighting on behalf of South Jersey and its residents.

Re-Elected November 2007. Term Expires December 2011.

Senator Christopher J. Connors was born in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He graduated with honors in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Stockton College. He earned a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Rutgers University Graduate School of Public Administration in Newark in 1988. Senator Connors received a Juris Doctor Degree from Rutgers University School of Law at Camden in 1995 and was the recipient of the American Bar Association’s Award for Excellence in Municipal Law.

He was elected to the Lacey Township Committee in 1984 and served as Mayor from 1986 to 1990. He was the Republican Municipal Chairman from 1986 to 1990. Senator Connors was Deputy Director of the New Jersey Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning and served as its Director during 1988 and 1989.

Senator Connors was selected by the Republican County Committee members and was sworn to the General Assembly on September 28, 1989. He was elected to his first full term in the Assembly in November, 1989. He was elected to the Senate in 2007.

While serving in the Assembly, he was the ranking member of both the Assembly Judiciary and Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committees. He served as Assistant Majority Leader from 1992 to 1995. Senator Connors is currently a member of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee and the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. He received the 1996 Public Service Award from the Ladies Auxiliary of the Retired Police and Firemen’s Association of Ocean County Local No. 8, was named Honorary Lifetime Member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Retired Police and Firemen’s Association of Ocean County Local No. 8, and was named 1999 “Citizen of the Year” by the Bayville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9503, was named 2000 Legislator of the Year by VFW Post 6063, received the 2000 Distinguished Service Award from the State VFW Commander and received the Legislative Achievement Award for 2001 from the State Retired Police and Firemen’s Association.

Senator Connors is an attorney with the law firm of Dasti, Murphy, McGuckin, Ulaky, Cherkos & Connors.

Senator Connors and his wife, Deborah, were married in 1979. They have two children, Christopher, Jr., born in 1982 and Kelly, born in 1987.

Re-Elected November 2009. Term Expires December 2011.

Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf was born in Somerville, New Jersey. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC where he graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts. He received a Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1989.

Assemblyman Rumpf was a Committeeman on the Little Egg Harbor Township Committee from 1997 to 2004 and served as Mayor from 2000 to 2004.

Assemblyman Rumpf is a member of the All Saints Regional Catholic School PTA and is a trustee of Southern Ocean County Hospital. Assemblyman Rumpf’s present and former professional affiliations include the American Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association and the Ocean County Bar Association. His law firm, Brian E. Rumpf PC, is located in Little Egg Harbor.

Assemblyman Rumpf was selected by the Republican County Committee members and was sworn to the Assembly on June 23, 2003 and was elected to his first full General Assembly term in 2003.

Assemblyman Rumpf is a ranking Republican member of the Assembly Transportation, Public Works and Independent Authorities Committee and is a member of the Assembly Education Committee.

Assemblyman Rumpf was appointed as a member of the Assembly Coastal New Jersey Evacuation Task Force.

Assemblyman Rumpf and his wife, Debra H., were married in 1990. They have two children, Justin and Kassidy.

Re-Elected November 2009. Term Expires December 2011.

DiAnne Gove is a life-long resident of Long Beach Township who has dedicated her life to serving the community.

She earned her degree in Social Science from Cabrini College and her master’s degree from Monmouth University. DiAnne taught American History and Government at her alma mater for 32 years. DiAnne served as mentor and class advisor to eight graduating classes, receiving recognition as High School Teacher of the Year in 1992.

In 1984, she was asked by members of the governing body of Long Beach Township to complete the term of former Commissioner McGinnis; in 1985, the residents of Long Beach Township affirmed their choice, electing DiAnne to a complete term.

DiAnne continued to serve her community as Eucharistic Minister and Lector at St. Francis parish, member of the Southern Ocean County Hospital (SOCH) Board of Trustees, member and chair of the Ocean County Advisory Committee on the Status of Women, member of the St. Francis Community Center Board and the Long Beach Island Rotary, where she received the Paul Harris award in 1998.

In 2003, DiAnne was again called by her community to serve, this time to fill the vacancy created by the death of Mayor and Commissioner James Mancini. In 2004, she was elected to a full four-year term as Commissioner and Mayor and re-elected in 2008. During this time, she also served as President of the Ocean County Mayor’s Association.

In 2009, DiAnne was selected to fill a vacant General Assembly seat in the 9th district. Later that fall, voters elected her to a full term in the Assembly.

Assemblywoman Gove currently serves on the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee and on the Assembly State Government Committee.