The Gist
Home

County

Sussex County Commissioner

Vote for
1
Term
3 years
Candidates
2
Election
Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The Board of County Commissioners is the county's governing body: it adopts the county budget, passes county ordinances and oversees county departments, roads, parks and services.

CandidatesCompare by issue

Philip DeStefano

Democratic

Retired logistics manager; martial arts school co-owner · Branchville

The gist

  • Supports greater transparency in county funding.
  • Supports farmland preservation.
  • Supports food security programs and care for homeless residents.
More about Philip
View sources (1)

  1. Supports greater transparency in county funding.

    3 running for 2 county commissioner seats (candidate questionnaire)

    Candidate questionnaire · The Sparta Independent · Oct 13, 2025 · spartaindependent.com

    “To see transparency in county funding.”

  2. Supports farmland preservation.

    3 running for 2 county commissioner seats (candidate questionnaire)

    Candidate questionnaire · The Sparta Independent · Oct 13, 2025 · spartaindependent.com

    “Farmland preservation.”

  3. Supports food security programs and care for homeless residents.

    3 running for 2 county commissioner seats (candidate questionnaire)

    Candidate questionnaire · The Sparta Independent · Oct 13, 2025 · spartaindependent.com

    “Food security for the elderly and less fortunate as well as care for the homeless.”
Photo of Jack DeGroot
Jack DeGrootOfficial portrait — Sussex County

Jack DeGroot

RepublicanIncumbent

Sussex County Commissioner; farmer · Wantage

The gist

  • Supports farmland preservation funding for family farms.
  • Supports updating the county Farmland Preservation Plan.
  • Supports larger county trail grants for municipalities.
  • Supports expanding cybersecurity training at the county college.
  • Supports senior programs such as the county Seed Library.
  • Supports promoting agritourism to help local farms.
More about Jack
View sources (2)

  1. Supports farmland preservation funding for family farms.

    Jack's Record

    Campaign website · Jack DeGroot For Commissioner · jackdegrootforcommissioner.com

    “Allocated $1 million to support multiple Sussex County family farms through farmland preservation efforts.”

  2. Supports updating the county Farmland Preservation Plan.

    Jack's Record

    Campaign website · Jack DeGroot For Commissioner · jackdegrootforcommissioner.com

    “Championing the update of the Sussex County Farmland Preservation Plan to provide clear guidance and attainable goals for future preservation efforts.”

  3. Supports larger county trail grants for municipalities.

    Jack's Record

    Campaign website · Jack DeGroot For Commissioner · jackdegrootforcommissioner.com

    “increasing award levels to $25,000 for individual municipalities and $50,000 for joint municipal projects”

  4. Supports expanding cybersecurity training at the county college.

    Jack DeGroot For Sussex County Commissioner

    Campaign website · Jack DeGroot For Commissioner · jackdegrootforcommissioner.com

    “Led upgrades to Sussex County Community College’s cybersecurity program through Check Point’s Secure Academy”

  5. Supports senior programs such as the county Seed Library.

    Jack's Record

    Campaign website · Jack DeGroot For Commissioner · jackdegrootforcommissioner.com

    “Launched the Sussex County Seed Library through the Division of Senior Services in partnership with Rutgers Master Gardeners.”

  6. Supports promoting agritourism to help local farms.

    Jack's Record

    Campaign website · Jack DeGroot For Commissioner · jackdegrootforcommissioner.com

    “Positioned agritourism as a tool for economic development, education, and farm sustainability”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.