Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella
A resident of Fanwood, Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella brings experience in business and public service to the Board of Chosen Freeholders. First elected in 1997, he is serving his fifth three-year term on the board, and prior to this year, served as Chairman three times.
In 2001, Freeholder Mirabella helped implement the Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund and saw some of the largest increases in Union County parkland in generations. He also oversaw the expansion of the County’s Office of Veterans Affairs.
Freeholder Mirabella was chairman of the County’s 9-11 Memorial Committee, which dedicated a memorial in Echo Lake Park to the Union County residents killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He also led the Board’s efforts to provide benefits and compensation to County workers called to active military duty.
The Union County Library Directors honored Freeholder Mirabella in 2001 for his advocacy on behalf of libraries, including development of the Union County Access 2002 Library Link Program, which distributed grants to upgrade technological infrastructure at 19 municipal libraries.
As Chairman of the Freeholder Board in 2006, his Community Connections initiatives included holding mobile Freeholder meetings in communities, and preserving open space in Clark. The County also assembled a shared services committee to streamline government and cut costs.
As Chairman in 2009, his initiatives included infrastructure planning, workforce development, and sustainability measures that helped to leverage millions of dollars in federal stimulus aid for transportation, community development and energy efficiency projects that created jobs. Freeholder Mirabella also organized the first Italian-American flag raising event for Columbus Day.
He has served on the Veterans Affairs Committee, Fire Services Advisory Board, and Union County Vocational-Technical School Board of Education. In 2007 Freeholder Mirabella was awarded the prestigious Alan Augustine award from Union County’s Prevention Links in recognition of his outstanding support of drug and alcohol prevention, support of Red Ribbon Day and keeping children off drugs, alcohol, and smoking.
He has also been honored by Community Access Unlimited for his efforts on behalf of the disabled and by the Raritan Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross (formerly Tri-County Red Cross) for his efforts in 2009 in securing grant money to train disaster volunteers.
Freeholder Mirabella was first elected to the Roselle Park Borough Council in 1991 and served until 1996. He graduated from Hobart College in Geneva, N.Y. with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. Freeholder Mirabella is an Assistant Vice President employed by the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies. He and his wife, Phyllis, a former Councilwoman in Roselle Park, have a son, Alexander, and a daughter, Micayla.
