Lower Alloways Creek Mayor Paul Collier was elected to the Salem County Board of Commissioners today, winning a special election to replace Mickey Ostrum on the third ballot.
Ostrum resigned following his election as Salem County Surrogate.
Collier defeated Carneys Point Committeeman Wayne Pelura, 33-16.
He led Pelura on the first ballot, 2014, with nine votes for construction company owner Lew Merryfield, six votes for former Oldmans Township school board president Gary Green, and one vote for Lou Pasquale, a Penns Grove planning board member.
On the second ballot, Collier led Pelura, 21-14, with seven each for Merryfield and Green.
Ostrum was elected county commissioner in 2018 and re-elected in 2021 and 2024. Collier is expected to run for a one-year unexpired term in November 2026.
