Accompanied by elected officials and community leaders from all sections of the County and around the State, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. kicked off his re-election campaign for Essex County Executive on Friday, December 11th. This is a historic election as DiVincenzo is seeking an unprecedented third term as Essex County Executive.

"While we have achieved a great deal during our first two terms in office, there is more that I would like to accomplish to benefit our residents. Our job to do what is best for Essex County residents is not yet complete. That is why I am asking voters to support me for another term," DiVincenzo said. "Putting Essex County First has been more than just a slogan. For me, it is a reminder of why I became an elected official and an inspiration to continue our work on behalf of our 800,000 Essex County residents," he noted.

"Our work has touched every segment of our residents’ lives. We have improved all of our parks, modernized our infrastructure so that we are prepared for the future, preserved our historic sites and lent a helping hand to those in need," he said. "All of this is the result of an unprecedented spirit of cooperation that we fostered with our 22 municipalities, park conservancies and community groups. We hope to continue those partnerships as we move ahead during the next four years," DiVincenzo said.

The County Executive announced an extensive list of 76 elected officials and Democratic Party leaders who are supporting him for re-election. They are Governor Jon S. Corzine, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, members of the U.S. House of Representatives including Congressman Donald M. Payne and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Senate President-Elect Steve Sweeney, Senate Majority Leader-Elect Barbara Buono, Senator Nia Gill and Senator Teresa Ruiz, members of the NJ Assembly including Assembly Speaker-Elect Sheila Oliver, members of the Board of Chosen Freeholders along with Sheriff Armando Fontoura and County Clerk Christopher Durkin, Newark Mayor Cory A. Booker and members of the Newark City Council, Essex County Mayors, NJ State Democratic Party Chairman Joseph Cryan, Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Philip Thigpen and municipal Democratic Party chair people.

"Joe is someone who gets things done. Character and integrity matter and no one carries more into the public square more than Joe DiVincenzo. I haven’t had a better friend and I endorse Joe D," Governor Jon Corzine said.

"We do not have to say much about Joe DiVincenzo because what he has accomplished can be seen throughout Essex County. This is the aggressive representation that our residents deserve and Joe has delivered that day after day. He has created a model of leadership we can all follow," Newark Mayor Cory Booker said.

"I came the furthest distance because Joe has a statewide presence. He has respect around New Jersey because of the things he has done here," NJ Senate President-Elect Steve Sweeney said.

"Early on, Joe brought in the concept of government as a team and over the last seven years he has a proven record of inclusion. His one objective is Putting Essex County First," Assembly Speaker-Elect Sheila Oliver said.

"The only thing more constant than the cold weather outside is our commitment and enthusiasm to re-elect Joe DiVincenzo as County Executive," NJ State Senator Nia Gill said.

"Joe created a model government and transformed Essex County into what it should be and what our residents deserve. I am proud to be endorsing my friend and the greatest County Executive," NJ State Senator and Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz said.

"I endorse Joe DiVincenzo for a third term as County Executive. I share the passion Joe has for our county. We need four more years of Joe D. to tackle the issues we are facing today," Assemblyman Thomas Giblin said.

"There are great politicians, leaders and administrators. We can find all of these attributes in one person – Joseph DiVincenzo. It is what compels me to support him for re-elecation as County Executive," Freeholder President Blonnie Watson said.

"At one point it was embarrassing to be an elected official from Essex County. Things changed immediately when Joe DiVincenzo was elected in 2003. Joe, you turned things around and now we have some of the best facilities in the State," Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura said.

"Today we are trumpeting the accomplishments of Joe DiVincenzo. At this time there is no better champion for the taxpayers of Essex County than Joe DiVincenzo," Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin said.

"Joe is truly committed to his job as County Executive and concerned about the people of Essex County. We can expect so much more to be accomplished over the next four years with Joe as our County Executive," Essex County Deputy Chief of Staff and former Assemblyman William Payne said.

"Anywhere you go in this County, you will see evidence of Joe’s good work. Joe has run an efficient government with the taxpayers in mind, and deserves re-election," Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman Philip Thigpen said.

During his announcement, DiVincenzo highlighted several accomplishments from his first seven years in office. These improvements touched every facet of residents’ quality of live and helped to make Essex County a model government.

The Essex County Government Complex in Newark has received a complete facelift in addition to the development of Essex County Veterans Memorial Park. The Historic Essex County Courthouse rehabilitation was stalled for 14 years until DiVincenzo’s administration completed the restoration in 24 months. Other upgrades are new offices for Superior Court and the Prosecutor’s Homicide Unit, updated waiting rooms for jurors, a new parking garage, entranceway and plazas, and the development of the Essex County Veterans Memorial Park. Underway is a project to transform the former jail into an office building to house the NJ Appellate Court Judges Chambers, NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and several County agencies. This will create about $1.7 million in savings and recurring revenue from rent when it is completed.

After inheriting a $64 million deficit in 2003, DiVincenzo restored financial stability to the County’s budget. Unnecessary contracts were eliminated, the workforce was streamlined through attrition and layoffs, and debt from previous administrations was restructured to reduce annual debt service payments without extending the life of the borrowing. He also has required non-union employees to pay a portion of their health insurance and prescription drug benefits and proposed an initiative to have all County employees do the same. Under his leadership, the County has received six bond ratings upgrades over the last seven years and it now has an A1 rating. In addition, DiVincenzo is lobbying to reform the binding arbitration process so economic conditions and financial hardships by governmental bodies are considered more prominently when contracts involving public safety employees are decided.

The County’s new Correctional Facility was just 40 percent completed when DiVincenzo took office. The building was completed within a year and professional leadership was hired to manage the facility. During the last three years, the department has received a perfect, 100 percent rating on its State evaluations, a 25-year-old Federal Consent Order was lifted and national accreditation was received from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. In 2009, the County is expected to generate about $313,000 in revenue from shared services agreements with two other counties to utilize a locked medical unit at East Orange General Hospital and about $17 million from its agreements to house Federal inmates and immigration detainees.

Similar improvements were accomplished at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Facility. A library with over 8,000 donated books was opened, a successful mentoring program provides guidance to detainees and Essex is still the only juvenile detention facility in the State to offer its residents a full, 6.5-hour school day. A 20-year-old Federal Consent Order was dismissed and a shared services agreement with Passaic County to house their juvenile offenders is expected to create $5 million of revenue.

Another success story is at the Essex County Hospital Center. After plans to build a new psychiatric hospital were stalled for over two decades, a new facility that opened in February 2007 took just 25 months to design and build. In 2009, Essex County entered into a cooperative agreement with the State and Passaic County to accept Passaic patients. This is expected to create about $10 million in new revenue for Essex.

Upgrades have been made in each of the 20 parks in the Essex County Park System. Turtle Back Zoo has been completely overhauled with new animal exhibits, a carousel, playground and amenities; received accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums; and set attendance records the last five consecutive years. For the last two years, revenue generated has exceeded operating expenses, making the Zoo a self-sustaining facility. After being closed more than a decade ago because of budget constraints, a new Environmental Center opened and quickly became the epicenter for environmental programs for people of all ages. Richard J. Codey Arena was expanded and received its first facelift in over 40 years. Essex County expanded its holdings of parkland by adding over 60 acres of open space to South Mountain Reservation and preserving Kip’s Castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. Currently underway is the demolition of the old Hospital Center buildings to develop a 90-acre park in Cedar Grove.

"I made a commitment that I would leave Essex County in better condition than when I arrived. While we have lived up to that promise, there are still a number of projects underway that have to be seen through," DiVincenzo said. "Working together we will build on that progress and continue Putting Essex County First," he added.