County Commissioners

County Commissioner Director, Benjamin H. Laury

Chairperson: Administrative Committee

Liaison to:  Public Works

Assignments: New Jersey Association of Counties; South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization

County Commissioner Ben Laury is a lifelong resident of the Borough of Elmer. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University and is licensed as a Professional Engineer and Master Plumber in the State of New Jersey.

County Commissioner Laury has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Before being elected as a Salem County Commissioner in 2009, he began his public community service by serving on the planning board, serving 10 years on the school board (5 years as president), and serving 7 years on the borough council (2 years as president).

County Commissioner Laury’s commitment to community service is highlighted by his dedication to the Boys Scouts of America. He currently is serving on the Southern New Jersey District Board and personally holds the rank of Eagle Scout and recently received the Boy Scout Silver Beaver award. He is committed to his faith and his church and is actively involved in the Elmer Methodist Church. He has been an active Rotary member for over 30 years and is a Paul Harris Fellow.

County Commissioner Laury has been married to his wife Kathy Laury for over 40 years. They are blessed with two children Brittany (married to Stan Orzechowski) and TJ (married to Sarah). They have seven grandchildren: Mason, Carter, twins Colton and Ryder, and triplets Theo, Zoe and Maggie.

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County Commissioner Deputy Director, Mickey Ostrum

Chairperson:  Agriculture & Public Safety Committee

Liaison to:  Administrative Committee; Tourism, Culture & Heritage, and Education Committee

Assignments:  Board of Social Services; Broadband and OEM Communication

County Commissioner Gordon J. “Mickey” Ostrum, Jr. moved to Salem County with his parents at age four and has lived here ever since.  After completing his education Grades K through 12 in the Woodstown Pilesgrove School System he went on to earn a BS in Biology from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA.  County Commissioner Ostrum then entered Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, receiving his MD in 1976.

After completing his studies at Jefferson Mickey began his Post Doctoral training as a Resident in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Wilmington Medical Center, now Christiana Care Health System.  Finishing in1980, he became Board Certified in 1982, maintaining that endorsement annually.  County Commissioner Ostrum entered private practice in New Castle County DE and Woodstown upon completion of his training and just recently retired.

At Christiana Care, County Commissioner Ostrum has had extensive leadership experience serving as Chair of the Obstetrical Operations Committee, Interim Chair and Vice Chair of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Member of the Medical Executive Committee, President of the Medical Dental Staff, and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors.  He remains of the Board of Trustees and is active in Peer Review activities.

Mickey is also active in the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists serving as Chair of the Delaware Section.  With that position goes a seat on the District III Advisory Council and advocacy activities at the annual Congressional Leadership Conference in Washington.

When away from professional responsibilities County Commissioner Ostrum participates in grain and cattle farming with his son Jake.  Mickey laughingly calls himself the Chief Medical Officer of Cowtown Rodeo, having been involved with the rodeo since childhood.  He subs for his son as Music Director at the rodeo several times a season.  Mickey and his wife Kelly reside in Pilesgrove with their family.

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County Commissioner, Ed Ramsay

Chairperson:  Economic Development Committee; Public Works Committee

Liaison to:  Health and Human Services Committee

Assignments:  Planning Board; Salem County Improvement Authority; South Jersey Economic Development District

After attending Gateway Regional High School and Gloucester County College, Ed graduated from Rutgers University with a BS in Business Management and Marketing. Professionally, Ed has been involved in real estate for 34 years including sales, brokerage, landlord, tax liens, and private investment.

As a Salem County resident, Ed has been actively attending meetings for the Economic Development Council, Salem County Improvement Authority, Tourism Advisory Council, Youth Services Commission, Agriculture Development Board, Municipal Councils, and Planning Boards.
Ed proudly served in the US Air Force as a ground/satellite navigation electronics technician.
Before moving to Pittsgrove, Ed served his hometown of Wenonah as Borough Council President and 2nd Lieutenant in the Fire Department, in addition to other committees.

County Commissioner Ed Ramsay is serving his first term on the Salem County Board of County Commissioners.

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County Commissioner, Cordy Taylor

Chairperson:  Tourism/Culture & Heritage and Education Committee; IT Committee

Liaison to:  Agriculture and Public Safety Committee; Economic Development Committee

Assignments:  Planning Board; Salem County Improvement Authority; South Jersey Economic Development District; Broadband and OEM Communication

Throughout his career, Commissioner Taylor has always made time for public service. This community service has included: soccer coach, school board member, municipal government member and various volunteer activities such as Habitat for Humanity, South Jersey Wheelman Bike Club and Pedricktown Day.  Most recently he has served as Chairman of the Salem County Improvement Authority and as a member of the County Planning Board and Economic Development Council.

Commissioner Taylor is married to Melinda Taylor and together they have raised two children, and too many cats, dogs, and horses to count. He is an Advanced Open Water Diver, a private pilot, and has spent countless hours bike riding throughout Salem County’s rural and scenic roads.

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County Commissioner, Daniel Timmerman

Chairperson:  Health and Human Services Committee

Liaison to:  IT Committee

Assignments:  Board of Social Services; Pollution Control

County Commissioner Daniel Timmerman is a resident of Woodstown Burrough. Commissioner Timmerman has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of South Carolina.  Following graduate school, he was hired and became a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers working at the Mine Safety and Health Academy in Beckley, West Virginia preparing safety and health risk assessments for environmental remediation technologies.

While in West Virginia, Commissioner Timmerman applied and later attended medical school.  While in medical school, he was awarded a fellowship to the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City working with attending staff to develop an automated computer program to identify patients at high risk for breast cancer.  After graduating from medical school, he completed a surgical residency in Philadelphia and is now a board-certified general surgeon practicing in Salem County with privileges at Salem Medical Center an affiliate of Inspira, and Inspira Medical Center Elmer.

In 2016, Dr. Timmerman set his efforts on law school.  He entered the Delaware Law School in 2017 and graduated in 2021.  In 2021, Commissioner Timmerman was presented with the Reed Hamilton Memorial Award for excellence in the area of health care law given by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.  Commissioner Timmerman is a father of four children and coaches his daughter, who plays for the 10U Woodstown Girls Lacrosse Team.

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