Kearny is governed under the Town form of New Jersey municipal government.
The government consists of a Mayor and Town Council comprising eight council members.
A Mayor is elected directly by the voters at-large to a four-year term of office.
The Town Council is elected by the voters to four-year terms of office in partisan elections, on a staggered basis, with one of the two seats from each ward coming up for election in two consecutive years followed by two years with no elections.
The Mayor and Council operate on a legislative basis, with the Mayor having veto power.
The day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the Town Administrator whose duties are specified by local ordinance, and who generally carries out the policies adopted by the Mayor and Council.

As of 2020, the Mayor of Kearny is Al Santos, who has been Mayor of Kearny since January 1, 2000, and whose current term of office ends December 31, 2021.
Before his election as mayor, Santos served as councilman of Kearny's Second Ward for one year.
Members of the Town Council are Albino Cardoso (D, 2022; 1st Ward), Marytrine De Castro (D, 2021; 1st Ward), Carol Jean Doyle (D, 2022; 3rd Ward), Eileen Eckel (D, 2022; 3rd Ward), Gerald J. Ficeto (D, 2021; 4th Ward - elected to serve an unexpired term), Richard P. Konopka (D, 2021; 2nd Ward), Susan A. McCurrie (D, 2022; 4th Ward) and Peter Santana (D, 2022; 2nd Ward).

In February 2019, the Town Council appointed Gerald Ficeto to fill the 2nd Ward seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Michael D. Landy until he resigned from office in December 2018.
in November 2019, Ficeto was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

On January 7, 2017, 2nd Ward Councilman Jonathan Giordano died, creating a vacancy on the Town Council.
In February 2017, Peter Santana was selected unanimously to fill Giordano's seat that expires in December 2018; Santana served on an interim basis until the November 2017 general election, when voters elected him to serve the balance of the term of office.

In February 2015, the Town Council selected Marytrine De Castro, as chosen by the Democratic municipal committee, to fill the vacant First Ward seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Alexa Arce until she resigned from office the previous month.
In the November general election, De Castro was elected to serve the balance of the term.
Kearny is governed under the Town form of New Jersey municipal government. The government consists of a Mayor and Town Council comprising eight council members. A Mayor is elected directly by the voters at-large to a four-year term of office. The Town Council is elected by the voters to four-year terms of office in partisan elections, on a staggered basis, with one of the two seats from each ward coming up for election in two consecutive years followed by two years with no elections. The Mayor and Council operate on a legislative basis, with the Mayor having veto power. The day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the Town Administrator whose duties are specified by local ordinance, and who generally carries out the policies adopted by the Mayor and Council.
As of 2020, the Mayor of Kearny is Al Santos, who has been Mayor of Kearny since January 1, 2000, and whose current term of office ends December 31, 2021. Before his election as mayor, Santos served as councilman of Kearny's Second Ward for one year. Members of the Town Council are Albino Cardoso (D, 2022; 1st Ward), Marytrine De Castro (D, 2021; 1st Ward), Carol Jean Doyle (D, 2022; 3rd Ward), Eileen Eckel (D, 2022; 3rd Ward), Gerald J. Ficeto (D, 2021; 4th Ward - elected to serve an unexpired term), Richard P. Konopka (D, 2021; 2nd Ward), Susan A. McCurrie (D, 2022; 4th Ward) and Peter Santana (D, 2022; 2nd Ward).
In February 2019, the Town Council appointed Gerald Ficeto to fill the 2nd Ward seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Michael D. Landy until he resigned from office in December 2018. in November 2019, Ficeto was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.
On January 7, 2017, 2nd Ward Councilman Jonathan Giordano died, creating a vacancy on the Town Council. In February 2017, Peter Santana was selected unanimously to fill Giordano's seat that expires in December 2018; Santana served on an interim basis until the November 2017 general election, when voters elected him to serve the balance of the term of office.
In February 2015, the Town Council selected Marytrine De Castro, as chosen by the Democratic municipal committee, to fill the vacant First Ward seat expiring in December 2017 that had been held by Alexa Arce until she resigned from office the previous month. In the November general election, De Castro was elected to serve the balance of the term.
Kearny, New Jersey