Name James Carroll | ||
James M. Carroll is an American Democratic Party politician, who served on the Bergen County (New Jersey) Board of Chosen Freeholders from 2003 to 2010, having been selected to complete the Freeholder term of the seat vacated when Dennis McNerney was elected County Executive, before winning election to a full term of office in 2006.
Carol was selected by members of the Bergen County Democratic Committee in December 2002 to fill the seat vacated by McNerney. Carroll defeated Woodcliff Lake mayor Josephine Higgins in the special election. When Carroll was sworn in on January 1, 2008, together with fellow party members David L. Ganz and Bernadette McPherson, Democrats took over control of Bergen County government for the first time in almost 20 years.
As a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, Carroll served as Chairman of the Freeholder Parks and Public Works Committee and sat on the Freeholder Committees for Education and Law and Public Safety. Carroll was liaison to the Freeholder's Municipal Advisory Council, the New Jersey Legislature and the Solid Waste Advisory Council, sat on the Board of School Estimate for the Bergen County Technical Schools and was alternate to the Bergen County Planning Board. In the 2010 election, Republicans swept all three open seats and knocked off Democratic incumbents, with Carroll coming in sixth place.
Carroll was the Mayor of Demarest, having successfully campaigned for Freeholder while completing his second term as councilman. During his last two terms, Carroll was liaison to the Board of Education, the Recreation and Environmental commissions and serves as the borough's insurance representative.
During his commission as the borough's insurance representative, he was instrumental in causing Demarest to select a new health insurance carrier. This change resulted in a savings to the town of $180,000 while providing a more flexible health plan for Demarest's employees. As a Community Development representative, Carroll helped obtain for Demarest more than $225,000 in community development grants. As Police chairman, Jim assisted the borough in obtaining more than $150,000 in additional funding. Carroll has also served as chairman for the Public Buildings, Real Estate and Ordinance, and Management Committees.
Carroll is a 29-year veteran of Verizon Corporation and a brother of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Carroll and his wife have lived in Demarest for over 20 years. They have four children, Jim Jr., Courtney, Katie and Melissa.