Commissioner
Lourdes M. Leon
Commissioner Lourdes M. Leon, a lifelong resident of Elizabeth, was elected to the Union County Board of County Commissioners in 2020. She made history as the first Hispanic woman elected to the Board and previously served as Chairwoman in 2025 under the theme “Union County 2025: Connecting Communities, Committed to Progress.” During her chairmanship, she advanced initiatives focused on accessibility, inclusion, and strengthening direct connections between County government and residents.
A dedicated community advocate and award-winning educator, Commissioner Leon devoted more than 27 years to the Elizabeth School District. Born in Cuba, she immigrated to Elizabeth with her parents in 1971. She began her career in education as a teacher’s aide and advanced through leadership roles to become Vice Principal and later Principal of the Donald Stewart Early Childhood Center, which she helped open in 2003. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Donald Stewart Strive for Excellence Educator’s Award in 2004–2005.
After retiring from the school district in 2013, Commissioner Leon continued her commitment to public service as President of the City of Elizabeth Mayor’s Community Development Advisory Committee, a position she has held since 2017. In 2021, as a member of the Board’s Public Safety Committee, she played a key role in overseeing Union County’s COVID-19 response, which included the administration of hundreds of thousands of tests and vaccines and the distribution of more than 10 million meals to residents in need.
As Chairwoman, Commissioner Leon championed a number of quality-of-life initiatives designed to serve residents of all ages and abilities. These included the expansion of free children’s and senior swim programs, the return of the Summer Arts concert and movie series, summer theater programming, and the growth of sensory-friendly theater and arts experiences to ensure inclusive access to cultural programming. She also launched Coffee with a Commissioner, an outreach initiative that brought County information directly to senior housing sites and community locations, allowing residents to engage one-on-one, ask questions, and access services in a welcoming, informal setting.
As a Commissioner, Leon has served as liaison to several boards and committees, including the Advisory Council on Aging, the Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Board, the Union College School Board of Estimates, the Shade Tree Advisory Board, and the Community Development Block Grant Board. She also serves as an alternate liaison to the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, reflecting her continued commitment to meeting residents where they are.
Commissioner Leon holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Administration. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kean University and completed graduate coursework in Educational Leadership at Walden University and Marygrove College.