Whenever the offices of all or a majority of the members of a governing body shall become vacant as provided in N.J.S. 40A:16-3, the fact of the vacancies shall be immediately certified to the Governor by the municipal clerk or any remaining member of the governing body. The Governor shall fill the vacancies within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancies. If the incumbent whose office has become vacant was elected to office other than as the nominee of a political party, the Governor shall appoint a successor to fill the vacancy without regard to party. If the incumbent whose office has become vacant was elected to office as the nominee of a political party, the Governor shall fill the vacancy by the appointment of a successor from the same political party which had nominated such incumbent.
N.J.S. § 40A:16-9