By Barbara A. Preston for The Montgomery News | June 18, 2026 (updated at 3:30pm)
BREAKING NEWS: Montgomery Township Deputy Mayor Vincent P. Barragan submitted his resignation letter today, effective immediately.
"I will be relocating to Princeton, since their public schools offer my daughter the least restrictive environment that best meets her special needs," he wrote. His daughter attended pre-K in the Montgomery School District, and is in kindergarten in Princeton now.
He told The Montgomery News: "I will always do what's best for my family, but I will miss Montgomery, and it will always have a special place in my heart. I look forward to having the opportunity to better engage in my daughter's education and in helping the Princeton board of education if I can.
"Our whole family will especially miss the inclusive playground. It a gem of the community. My daughter calls it her playground."
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Barragan has served as a global corporate finance executive for Johnson & Johnson. He currently works for Integra LifeSciences, a medical equipment manufacturing company, in Princeton. He completed the U.S. Army ROTC program at Fordham University, then served four years active duty in the U.S. Army Infantry reaching the rank of captain. He deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom earning the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Infantryman Badge.
In June 2022, the Township Committee appointed Vincent Barragan, a member of the Democratic Party, to fill the seat that had been held by Kent Huang. Barragan was elected to a three-year term to Township Committee in November 2025. There are two and half years left on his term.
Township Committee will have to appoint a new deputy mayor. And the Montgomery Democratic Organization will select another Democrat to temporarily fill Barragan's seat.
"If the vacancy occurs prior to Sept 1 in the next to last year of the term, the officer whose office has become vacant, the office shall be filled for its unexpired term at the next general election to be held not less that 60 days after the occurrence of the vacancy. The governing body may fill the position on a temporary basis until that next general election," according to the NJ Municipal Vacancy Law.
According to the Somerset County Clerk's Office:
The Somerset County Democrats nominate three Democrats for the vacant seat Montgomery Township Committee seat.
The Montgomery Township Committee will then vote to appoint one of the three Democratic nominees to the position — just for the remainder of 2026.
For the Remaining two years of Barragan's Term (2027 & 2028): Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party will each get to select a candidate to appear on the ballot for the General Election on November 3, 2026. The names must be submitted to the Somerset County Clerk's Office in early September.
Montgomery voters will then elect the winner to fill the final two years of Barragan's term.
Two Montgomery Township Committee Seats Up for Grabs in the General election.
Incumbent Patricia Todd (Democrat) is running for a second term against Republican Challenger George De Sanctis.
One Democrat (undetermined) will run for a two-term against one Republican (undetermined).
Barragan was an active member of Montgomery Veteran's Memorial Committee. He is married to Cathy and father of two children: Vincent and Valerie. He was a resident of Skillman since 2016.
