Commissioner Sergio Granados

Commissioner
Sergio Granados

Commissioner Sergio Granados, a native of Elizabeth, was the youngest Commissioner ever elected to the Board in 2013, and was also the youngest Democratic board member elected in New Jersey. He was re-elected to his fourth term in 2022 and served his second term as Chairman in 2023.

As Chairman in 2023, Granados’s “Building a Stronger Union County” initiatives delivered critical improvements county-wide based on residents’ requests and feedback. As part of these initiatives, the County initiated upgrades in over one-third of its parks, expanded its regional dispatch center to help municipalities save money on EMS costs through a shared service agreement, and achieved 100% adoption of the State of New Jersey’s ARRIVE Together program, which pairs law enforcement officers with certified civilian mental health screeners for crisis response (the first county in NJ to do so).

Under the 2023 initiatives, the County also distributed $500 tax rebate checks to 100% disabled seniors and veterans, launched free swimming lessons for kids, hosted more than 10 job fairs, two expungement clinics, and the inaugural Union County WORKS Summit for business owners, started a community theater grant program and summer theater scholarship, introduced the Blue Envelope program to help facilitate traffic stop communication between autistic drivers and police, and more.

As Chairman in 2018, Granados’s “Moving Union County Forward” initiatives focused on advocacy, equality, volunteerism, public safety, and the environment. The County created the first Union County Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration and opened its Office of LGBTQ Affairs, Office for People with Disabilities and Special Needs, and Office of Community Engagement and Diversity—each being the first of its kind in the State.

In 2018, Union County also became the first New Jersey county to equip all municipal police with body cameras, and build Warinanco Dog Park, the first dog park for residents in the eastern half of Union County.

As Chairman of the County’s Open Space Trust Fund, Granados worked to create the Kids Dig In! grant program, the first inclusive playground in Union County, and the “Level the Playing Field” grant program for municipalities. He also developed the Union County Theatre Scholarship Program for Students.

As Chairman of the County’s Fiscal Committee in 2020, Granados oversaw the disbursement of COVID-19 relief funds. His work on the committee resulted in zero-percent tax increases while maintaining the highest attainable credit rating from Moody’s.

As Chairman of the County’s Public Safety Committee in 2021, Granados oversaw the County’s coordinated pandemic response, including testing and vaccination, as well as the launch of the Fresh Start Mobile Shower initiative, which provides hygiene services and guidance to displaced and unsheltered residents twice a month.

Granados attended Union County College, and earned both his Bachelor of Business Management and Master of Public Administration from Kean University. He lives in Elizabeth with his wife, Kellianne and their son, Alexander.​