Stephen M. SweeneyFreeholder Director & State Senator
Since joining the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1997, Stephen M. Sweeney has brought a forward-thinking approach to county government with an emphasis on regionalization and shared services to cut costs, increasing services and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens.
Steve has been selected as the Director of the Board by his Freeholder Colleagues every year since 1998. As Freeholder Director, Stephen M. Sweeney is credited with many notable achievements that include promoting economic development to a level where Gloucester County is nationally ranked in the top 10 percent for job growth, permanently preserving over 14,000 acres of farmland and open space, opening the Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery, and establishing both an elementary school and a high school for special needs children. He is a proponent of shared services and regionalization and has combined county school districts in order to save taxpayers over $1million annually. This initiative has led the way for construction of the new Bankbridge Development Center (School for Children with Autism) that will open later this year. This new school is also anticipated to save taxpayers an additional $1 million annually.
Under Director Sweeney’s leadership Gloucester County is constructing an access road for the new Port of Paulsboro; one of the largest economic development projects in the county’s history that will increase jobs and commerce along the waterfront. An avid advocate for the environment, Director Sweeney is overseeing the creation of an Equestrian Park (DREAM Park) that will open in June 2008 in Logan Township. Before the county acquired the 300 acres of land for this park, this site was a prime target for dredge spoils to be dumped. Director Sweeney also introduced a model Storm Water Management program that is saving local governments over $12 million annually, and protecting the regions’ drinking water sources from pollution.
As Freeholder Director, Steve Sweeney oversees the Gloucester County Department of Administration, which includes the following departments: Administrator ; Treasurer; Personnel ; Purchasing ; Clerk of the Board and County Counsel , as well as the Department of Buildings and Grounds . He also serves as Liaison to the Gloucester County Improvement Authority and is a statutory member of the Gloucester County Planning Board. He serves as Chairman of the Board of School Estimates, is a board member of the United Way of Gloucester County, a member of the West Deptford Lions Club, and a Special Olympics of New Jersey Board member.
Steve resides in West Deptford Township with his wife Patti and their children Stephen and Lauren. He is the General Organizer for the International Association of Ironworkers. Steve also serves as New Jersey Senate Majority Leader and locally represents the 3rd Legislative District, which includes parts of Gloucester and Cumberland Counties and all of Salem County.
| STEPHEN M. SWEENEY (Democrat) P.O. Box 337 - Courthouse Woodbury, New Jersey 08096 (856) 853-3390- OFFICE (856) 853-3495- FAX EMAIL: ssweeney@co.gloucester.nj.us TERM EXPIRES 12/31/2011 |
