Melvin Cottrell

Melvin Cottrell (March 31, 1929 – October 9, 2002) was an American Republican Party politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1992 until his death in 2002. He represented the 30th Legislative District, which included portions of Burlington, Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean counties.

Cottrell lived his entire life in Jackson Township, attending the local public schools and graduating from Lakewood High School.

In the Assembly, Cottrell served as the Chair of the Senior Issues and Community Services Committee and was a member of the Solid and Hazardous Waste Committee.

Cottrell died on October 9, 2002, at Graduate University Hospital in Philadelphia. In November 2002, Republican County Committee representatives from the 30th District chose Ronald S. Dancer, mayor of Plumsted Township to fill the vacancy created by Cottrell's death; Dancer defeated Howell Township Councilmember Joseph DiBella by a 106–72 margin in voting by county committee heads.