Vice Chairman Joseph Bodek

Vice Chairman
Joseph Bodek

Vice Chairman Joseph C. Bodek joined the Union County Commissioner Board for the first time in 2023 after being appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board on December 14, 2022.

Bodek, the son of a Jersey City Battalion Fire Chief, graduated from Jersey City University (formerly known as Jersey City State College) in 1977 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics. At NJCU, he quickly developed an interest in the ways in which communities operate. He holds deep ties to his community, has been steeped in local government for more than four decades, and is committed to making government responsive to the citizens of Union County at an affordable cost. 

Bodek grew up in Jersey City. He moved to Linden upon his high school graduation and still resides there to this day with his wife Christine. He is the proud father of two children: son Joseph John Bodek (married to Claudia), daughter Beth Ann Rivera (married to Joseph) and three grandchildren; Evelyn Mary Bodek, Adalyn Gene Rivera, and Aria Grace Rivera.  

Bodek first served in elected office when he was elected to the Linden Board of Education in 1981, and served there for more than 12 years while earning a living as a store Manager for Meat City Companies at various locations. In 1989 he became Clerk to the Union County Utilities Authority, which is responsible for processing the County’s solid waste in an environmentally sound manner, and served in this position for more than 30 years – stepping down to become a County Commissioner. 

As a Commissioner, Bodek has served on a number of boards and committees, including the Union County College School Board of Estimates, the Union County Vocational-Technical School Board of Estimates, the Solid Waste Advisory Board, the Construction Board of Appeals, the Union County Voter Accessibility Advisory Board, and the New Jersey League of Municipalities. 

In addition to this Bodek serves as City Clerk of the City of Linden, a role he has held for over a decade. As such he oversees several vital functions including Registrar of Vital Statistics, Secretary to the Governing Body, ABC Secretary, Chairman of the Insurance Commission and head of Personnel.