Freeholder John C. Bartlett, Jr.
Chairman: Finance and
Parks & Recreation
Term Expires: 12/31/2012
Contact: 732-929-2116

Freeholder John C. Bartlett Jr. was sworn into his 11th three-year term on the Board of Freeholders during the Board’s Organization meeting Jan. 6, 2010.

Freeholder Bartlett, a longtime resident of Pine Beach, is known for his staunch fiscal policies and his continuing work to maintain and provide open space for county residents.

Freeholder Bartlett is the senior member of the Board. He is Chairman of the county’s Department of Finance, and Parks and Recreation. He also serves as liaison to the county’s Natural Lands Trust Fund program.

During his tenure, he has closely worked with department heads and the administration to produce county budgets that provide the funding for essential services to residents that also are affordable. He established an aggressive debt reduction program while still providing money for new capital projects and a stable county tax rate.

Also, during his time on the board, the county parks department has grown to include 27 different park sites including two golf courses. Under his leadership, park facilities range from sports field complexes, to dog parks, and general recreational areas for all residents. The County in 2009 opened its newest park - Jake’s Branch County Park in Beachwood - and began extensive renovations to Tip Seaman County Park in Tuckerton.

Under his leadership the County also provides an extensive recreation program through it’s Parks and Recreation Department, offering programs for residents of all ages.

As liaison to Ocean County College, Freeholder Bartlett is a staunch supporter of quality and affordable education. He closely works with the college on various projects and is a champion of the Ocean County College and Kean University Partnership.

The Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund, approved by voters in 1997, has resulted in more than 12,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands and farmlands being preserved in the county with many more applications under review.

Freeholder Bartlett was born in Lakewood and has been a resident of the riverfront community of Pine Beach since 1947. He became a member of the Pine Beach Council in 1974 and was elected Mayor there in 1978. Freeholder Bartlett served as vice president of the Southern New Jersey Freeholders Association for the year 2003.

He served as the Director of the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2009 and served as the Board’s Deputy Director in 2006. Freeholder Bartlett also served as Director of the Board of Freeholders in 1982, 1988, 1992 and 1997. And, he served as Deputy Director in 2002.

Freeholder Bartlett had worked as a teacher at Toms River High School North. He is a graduate of the inaugural class of Ocean County College, Toms River Township, where he received his Associate Degree. He received his Bachelors Degree from Western Maryland College, where he earned departmental honors in political science. He received his Masters Degree in Political Science from the Graduate School of Public Affairs, State University of New York at Albany in 1970.

Freeholder Bartlett and his wife, Peggy, have two adult children John C. III and Margaret.