Cranford, New Jersey was incorporated on March 14, 1871. The mayor is the chief elected official in the Township of Cranford, in Union County, New Jersey . The township elects five commissioners at-large to three-year terms, and the members of the township committee elect one of their own as mayor and one as deputy mayor for one-year terms. The mayor of Cranford is the chairman of the township committee and presides over meetings, sets agendas, oversees township government, and performs ceremonial functions. The mayor has the same one vote as other commissioners and is a part-time ceremonial function. The mayor of Cranford possesses other duties assigned to mayors under New Jersey law. Daniel Aschenbach was mayor 4 times. Terms are for the calendar year given unless otherwise noted. The mayors are as follows:[1]