For the first time since Lyndon B. Johnson was President, the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders is controlled by Democrats.

The official election results from the county clerk’s office, released Tuesday, show Melonie Marano beating incumbent Republican Patricia Walsh by 856 votes.

“It’s very exciting. I was there this morning when they announced Melonie had won,” said Peg Schaffer, Chair of the Somerset County Democratic Committee. “It certainly is a historic moment.”

Marano is the third Democrat to join the Freeholder Board after her counterparts Shanel Robinson and Sara Sooy were elected to the board last year.

Marano has lived in Green Brook for 30 years, served on the Township Committee from 2004-2008, and served a term as mayor in 2009.

“I’m super excited. I worked really hard throughout this campaign, and it wasn’t just me it has been a lot of people working really hard to get to this point,” Marano said.

Marano said she plans to focus on environmental issues, specifically preserving open space in the county, and education with attention on the county’s vocational schools and community college.

“This is a great victory for the people of Somerset County and for the environment," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, in a statement. “Melonie Marano ... will be an environmental leader working to move Somerset County forward.”

Marano has been a member of the Sierra Club for many years and received the organization’s endorsement while she was campaigning.

Schaffer credits the ideological shift to the changing demographics of the county, and to the fact that many of the residents that identify as Republican are on the moderate side.

“It all came together and I am excited to have three very strong and very bright women sitting on the Freeholder board,” Schaffer said.

Walsh could not immediately be reached for comment.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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