Lois A. Cuccinello
Encyclopedia
Lois A. Cuccinello has served on the Passaic County
Board of Chosen Freeholders
since 1997, winning re-election in 2000 and 2003. In January 1999 she was selected to serve as Freeholder Director, making Freeholder Cuccinello the first woman to hold that position in four decades.
A Passaic County native, the Paterson
-born Freeholder graduated from Public School 18. Her family moved to the Borough of Hawthorne
where she graduated from Hawthorne High School
. She received her Bachelor’s degree from William Paterson College
and in 1984, graduated from Cornell University
with her Master’s Degree in Labor Relations.
Cuccinello married Don Polizzi in 1987, and they make their home in Hawthorne. She served the community of Hawthorne as its 4th Ward Councilwoman from 1994-2003.
Freeholder Cuccinello has been actively employed in the labor movement for most of her professional career. She is a Union Representative, who specializes in contract negotiation and administration, for AFL-CIO
unions such as the United Auto Workers
, OPEIU (Office and Professional Employees International Union
), and currently the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE, a healthcare affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers
).
Freeholder Cuccinello, who will serve as Chair of the Human Services Committee for 2005, oversaw the formation of the Department of Senior, Disability Services and Veterans’ Affairs. This new department has brought together all the services required by these populations into one cohesive unit and has increased the County’s ability to better serve their needs. She is the 2005 Freeholder Liaison to the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee, which allocates funds to preserve open space and to rehabilitate and renovate recreational facilities and County parks such as Garret Mountain Reservation
, Goffle Brook Park and Weasel Brook Park. In recognition of her commitment to open space, Freeholder Cuccinello was recently nominated, by former Governor
Jim McGreevey
, to serve on the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.
In March 2006, she announced that she will be resigning as a freeholder in June 2006 and will not seek reelection this year. She said she accepted an appointment from Governor of New Jersey
Jon Corzine
as an Assistant Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
since 1997, winning re-election in 2000 and 2003. In January 1999 she was selected to serve as Freeholder Director, making Freeholder Cuccinello the first woman to hold that position in four decades.
A Passaic County native, the Paterson
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
-born Freeholder graduated from Public School 18. Her family moved to the Borough of Hawthorne
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Hawthorne is a borough in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 18,218.Hawthorne was originally part of the now-defunct Manchester Township, which was later subdivided to create Hawthorne, Haledon, North Haledon, Prospect Park,...
where she graduated from Hawthorne High School
Hawthorne High School (New Jersey)
Hawthorne High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grade from Hawthorne, in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hawthorne Public Schools....
. She received her Bachelor’s degree from William Paterson College
William Paterson University
William Paterson University is a comprehensive public institution located in Wayne, New Jersey serving nearly 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students through five colleges: , , , , and ....
and in 1984, graduated from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
with her Master’s Degree in Labor Relations.
Cuccinello married Don Polizzi in 1987, and they make their home in Hawthorne. She served the community of Hawthorne as its 4th Ward Councilwoman from 1994-2003.
Freeholder Cuccinello has been actively employed in the labor movement for most of her professional career. She is a Union Representative, who specializes in contract negotiation and administration, for AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
unions such as the United Auto Workers
United Auto Workers
The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, better known as the United Auto Workers , is a labor union which represents workers in the United States and Puerto Rico, and formerly in Canada. Founded as part of the Congress of Industrial...
, OPEIU (Office and Professional Employees International Union
Office and Professional Employees International Union
The Office and Professional Employees International Union is a trade union in the United States representing 110,416 white-collar workers in the public and private sector....
), and currently the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE, a healthcare affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
).
Freeholder Cuccinello, who will serve as Chair of the Human Services Committee for 2005, oversaw the formation of the Department of Senior, Disability Services and Veterans’ Affairs. This new department has brought together all the services required by these populations into one cohesive unit and has increased the County’s ability to better serve their needs. She is the 2005 Freeholder Liaison to the Open Space & Farmland Preservation Trust Fund Advisory Committee, which allocates funds to preserve open space and to rehabilitate and renovate recreational facilities and County parks such as Garret Mountain Reservation
Garret Mountain Reservation
Garret Mountain Reservation is 568 acre park located in southern Passaic County, New Jersey, United States and one of several National Natural Landmarks in New Jersey...
, Goffle Brook Park and Weasel Brook Park. In recognition of her commitment to open space, Freeholder Cuccinello was recently nominated, by former Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jim McGreevey
Jim McGreevey
James Edward "Jim" McGreevey is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until he resigned from office at 11:59 pm on November 15, 2004. His term was set to expire on January 17, 2006...
, to serve on the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.
In March 2006, she announced that she will be resigning as a freeholder in June 2006 and will not seek reelection this year. She said she accepted an appointment from Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
as an Assistant Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.