Joe Fiordaliso, Board of Public Utilties President, dies at 78

Joseph A. Fiordaliso, the president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and a fixture in New Jersey politics for two decades, died at his home suddenly on Wednesday evening. He was 78.

As a cabinet member, Fiordaliso was a key ally of Gov. Phil Murphy on clean energy issues. In July, Fiordaliso backed a measure to reduce the state’s dependency on natural gas and move toward expanded electrification over the next twelve years.

In a statement this morning, Murphy called Fiordaliso “a consummate public servant, a trusted colleague, and a good friend.”

“As President of the BPU since the beginning of my Administration, Joe skillfully led our work to responsibly transition to a clean energy economy while always putting the needs of consumers first. He also was a key figure in our storm response efforts and in ensuring that all New Jerseyans had access to critical services like clean water, electricity, and broadband. And, as a former three-time Mayor of Livingston and member of the Township Council, he was a dedicated member of his community,” Murphy said. “Every time you saw Joe, he was wearing his signature offshore wind pin or handing one out to anyone and everyone he met. He had an infectious personality and generous spirit. Tammy and I will miss his wise counsel and friendship. May he Rest in Peace.”

Fiordaliso launched his political career in 1988, winning an open seat on the Livingston Township Council. Livingston voters supported Republicans George H.W. Bush for president and Dean Gallo for Congress, but also Democratic U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg. Fiordaliso led Republican Steve Rockoff by 2,248 votes in an election that flipped two council seats.

He was re-elected in 1992, leading Republican Ira Drucks by nearly 3,500 votes, and in 1996 became Livingston’s second three-term councilman; he defeated Republican Richard Bloomstein by about 1,270 votes.

During his twelve years on the council, Fiordaliso served as mayor three times.

Fiordaliso served as Essex County’s director of planning and development and later as director of government relations at St. Barnabas Health Care System.

In 1999, he suffered the only defeat of his political career. Republican Nicholas Rolli had decided not to seek re-election as an Essex County Freeholder in District IV and replaced him on the ticket with Verona Councilman James Paganelli. Democrats picked Fiordaliso as their freeholder candidate. Paganelli defeated Fiordaliso by about 2,600 votes.

He began to play a statewide role in the early 2000s when he ran Senate President Richard J. Codey’s district office.

After Codey became governor of New Jersey in 2004, Fiordaliso was named deputy chief of staff.

Codey nominated him to serve on the Board of Public Utilities in December 2005 to replace Jack Alter, the mayor of Fort Lee, who was stepping down.

Gov. Chris Christie renominated him in 2011 and again in 2013. He was elevated to the chairmanship by Murphy when he took office in 2018, replacing Richard Mroz.

Codey called Fiordaliso a “great friend and dedicated public servant” and said he had a “deep understanding of the issues that affected New Jerseyans and passion for doing great work.”

“I will always remember one of the biggest moments in both of our lives. It was August of 2004 and Gov. McGreevey stunned everyone with his announcement he was stepping down. For me, it meant I was to become governor. And for Joe, it meant he was about to become one of my top lieutenants and most trusted advisors. We got on the phone and I told him I needed him ASAP. There was only one problem: Joe and his wife, Marilyn, were vacationing somewhere on an island. Getting a flight was a problem, but Joe found a way,” Codey said. “To this day, I’ll never know how he got back to New Jersey as quickly as he did. But that was Joe in a nutshell. He found a way. He always found a way.”

In comments at the July 26 board meeting, Fiordaliso pushed back on claims by legislators from both parties who suggested the state was about to take away gas stoves.

“Let’s be clear: we are requiring; we are not mandating anyone to give up their gas stove,” he said.

Murphy had also named Fiordaliso to the State Planning Commissioner. He chairs the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy and the state Broadband Commission.

In May, Fiordaliso had become a member of the Federal Regulatory Comnission’s Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electronic Transmission.

A former teacher, Fiordaliso spent nearly two decades as a teacher at Vailsburg High School and at Bloomfield High School. He later taught accounting at the County College of Morris.

Fiordaliso is survived by his wife, Marilyn, two children, and six grandchildren.

Editor’s note: Joe Fiordaliso succeeded me on the Livingston Township Council in 1988. He was a good man, a team player, and a hard worker. I will miss him. — DW
This story was updated at 7:55 AM with comment from Murphy.

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