Staff Report / cranfordlocal.org

**Lourdes Leon Named First Hispanic Chairwoman of Union County Commissioners**

Elizabeth, NJ – At the 168th Reorganization Meeting of the Union County Board of County Commissioners last night, Lourdes Leon made history as the first Hispanic woman to become Chairwoman of the Commissioner Board. Chairwoman Leon, a lifelong resident of Elizabeth, introduced her "Union County 2025: Connecting Communities, Committed to Progress" initiatives, which focus on community engagement, improving access to resources, and creating opportunities for Union County residents.

Chairwoman Leon's journey exemplifies dedication and public service. She emigrated from Cuba with her family in 1971 and pursued a career in education, serving over 27 years in the Elizabeth School District. Notably, she ascended from a teacher’s aide to Principal of the Donald Stewart Early Childhood Center, where her work earned her the Donald Stewart “Strive for Excellence” Educator’s Award in 2004-2005. Chairwoman Leon graduated summa cum laude from Kean University with an M.A. in Educational Administration.

After her retirement in 2013, Chairwoman Leon continued serving the community as President of the City of Elizabeth Mayor’s Community Development Advisory Committee. In 2020, she joined the Union County Board of County Commissioners, where she has been instrumental in leading efforts such as the county's extensive COVID-19 response, which included administering hundreds of thousands of tests and vaccines and distributing more than 10 million meals to those in need.

At the meeting, Commissioners Alexander Mirabella and Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded were sworn into new terms, and James E. Baker, Jr. renewed his term in a prior ceremony. Commissioner Joseph C. Bodek assumed the role of Vice-Chairman. The board also finalized appointments to several advisory boards and approved its schedule and procedural rules for 2025.

For more information on Chairwoman Leon’s 2025 initiatives or to access her full remarks, residents can visit [ucnj.org](https://ucnj.org).

Source: County of Union

Source Type: Gov

Source Location:

Westfield, NJ

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