ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ENDORSED BY GOVERNOR MIKIE SHERRILL

DiVincenzo Seeking Re-election to his 7^th Term in Office

West Orange, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. was endorsed on Wednesday, March 4^th by Governor Mikie Sherrill for his re-election as Essex County Executive. DiVincenzo is seeking his 7^th term leading Essex County.

“The greatest compliment I can give to Joe is that he leads from the front. During COVID, he was at the vaccination centers. At food distributions, he is giving boxes out. He is always making sure people are ok,” Sherrill said. “Joe is focused on doing what is right for the people of Essex County and he knows what it takes to be a good public servant. I am proud to endorse Joe D as our County Executive,” she added.

“As a Congresswoman for seven years and in her short time as our Governor, Mikie Sherrill has demonstrated strong leadership and a passion to do what is right for our residents. In just a month since taking office, she has stood up to Donald Trump to restart the Gateway Tunnel Project, restored New Jersey’s rightful representation on the Port Authority of NY/NJ and brought a business-like approach to running our state government,” DiVincenzo said. “It means so much to me to have the trust and confidence of Mikie as I seek re-election. I am honored to have worked with her in the past and I look forward to continuing to partner with her to make Essex and our state a great place to live and work,” he added.

“I bring the same high level of enthusiasm and energy to Essex County that I had on day one. Together with my team and with the support of our residents, we can continue to tackle difficult issues and accomplish even more,” DiVincenzo added.

DiVincenzo had reshaped Essex County by strengthening the financial standing and stabilizing county property taxes, revitalizing the Essex County Parks System, modernizing infrastructure and placing an emphasis on offering programs and services that benefit senior citizens and vulnerable residents. A snapshot of DiVincenzo’s accomplishments include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Transforming an inherited $64 million deficit into a $75 million fund balance
• Improving the County’s bond rating from junk status to AA
• Updating recreation facilities, landscaping and historical features throughout the Parks System
• Expanding the Essex County Parks System to 24 parks from 17 parks
• Transforming Essex County Turtle Back Zoo into a premiere recreation and education destination
• Modernizing bridges, intersections and roadways to enhance pedestrian and traffic safety
• Building a new psychiatric hospital
• Opening a new Division of Family Assistance and Benefits headquarters and the Wynona Lipman Family Courthouse to provide vulnerable families with spaces where they can be treated with dignity and respect while being provided supportive services
• Offering innovative employment training and job recruitment programs to help residents enter or re-enter the workforce
• Providing cutting edge alternative to incarceration programs for youth to help them get their lives in order
• Investing in modern IT to protect government operations and secure information

DiVincenzo is the fifth County Executive in Essex history. He previously served as a Freeholder (now call County Commissioner) for 13 years and served as President of the Board for eight years.