Cape May County Commissioner Vice-Director Leonard Desiderio was the only member of the New Jersey Association of Counties Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Desiderio received his award on Thursday during the organization’s annual conference. Desiderio joined Commissioner Director Gerald M. Thornton, as the second member of the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners to be put into the Hall of Fame.
Desiderio has a long history of public service. He was first elected mayor of Sea Isle City and has been serving in this position since 1993. Then in 2002, he was elected to what was then known as the Freeholder Board in 2002 but has since been renamed Board of County Commissioners. Desiderio is a member of the Sea Isle City Planning Board, Sea Isle City Ambulance Corps, Elks Lodge BPOE 1290, Southern New Jersey Commissioners’ Association, New Jersey Association of Counties and past president and current member of the Cape May County League of Municipalities. Desiderio is also a member and current Chairman of the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization. Commissioner Desiderio was recognized by the New Jersey Conference of Mayors as Freeholder of the year 2004 and 2015.
“It is such an honor to serve the great people of Cape May County and this award is a great acknowledgment of the good work we have done over the years,” said Desiderio. “I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues on the Commissioner Board and the employees that make our projects happen. I also thank my family who have always supported me over the years.”
Desiderio was originally a native of Nutley, New Jersey. He became a full-time resident of Sea Isle City in 1983 and is president of the Sea Isle Inn and Kix Bars, which are family owned and operated businesses. He and his family are very involved in the community sponsoring numerous community and charitable events, including Sea Isle City’s St. Patrick’s Day and Columbus Day Parades.
“It has been an honor to work with Lenny (Desiderio) as the Vice-Director over recent years,” said Thornton. “I am proud to call him a friend. The work he does in the community, especially behind the scenes shows what a great person he is. Cape May County is lucky to have someone like him representing them.”
