Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey honors Councilwoman Karen Kominsky

Trailblazer Award

Karen has more than 35 years of experience in both the public and private sectors of government affairs. Karen served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governors Richard J. Codey and James E. McGreevey. Prior to that, Karen's career came full circle when she became Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, where she had originally launched her professional career.

Since 2017, Karen has been a partner in CLB Partners, a government affairs consulting firm based in Trenton.

Karen has engaged in public service for several years with tremendous distinction. Her career includes appointments to the NJ Building Authority, State Planning Commission and the Garden State Preservation Trust. She served on the New Jersey Real Estate Commission and as a special master in several Mt. Laurel affordable housing cases in NJ Superior Court.

In 2024, Karen served on the Rules Committee for the Democratic National

Convention. She was the NJ State Director of the Hillary Clinton for President Campaign and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2008. She served on Governor Sherrill’s Transition Team Local Government Advisory Group.

For over a decade she was the co-chair of PAM’s List, a PAC focused on women candidates. Karen received their Women Who Get it Done Award in 2023. In 2024, she received the Empowerment Award from Maria’s Women United.

A licensed professional planner, Karen is a graduate of Douglass College, Rutgers University and received her Master of City and Regional Planning from the Bloustein School at Rutgers University.

Karen is a life-long New Jersey resident and has resided in Lambertville since 1988 with her sons Alex and Matthew. She currently serves on the Board of the Delaware Valley Food Pantry and previously served on the South Hunterdon Regional School Board. Karen now serves on the Lambertville City Council, first elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2025.