COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1

Robert Mercado

Phone: 973-621-4477

Email: rmercado@commissioners.essexcountynj.org

Fax: 973-621-5695

Room: 552

ROBERT MERCADO was elected to his first term as District 1 Commissioner in November 2017 and re-elected in 2020. He attended Newark Public Schools and graduated from Barringer High School. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers College (now Rutgers University), a Master of Public Administration degree from Rutgers University–Newark, and a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University–New Brunswick.

His roots are deeply planted into Newark’s largely Latino North Ward. During the last 25 years, Commissioner Mercado has worked in the field of social work and juvenile justice in New Jersey. He previously served in positions at Youth Advocate Programs in Essex and Hudson Counties, Creative Consulting Services, Inc., La Casa de Don Pedro Community Center in Newark, Youth Consultation Services, Hudson County Children’s Shelter, Independence: A Family of Services (a social service community-based agency in Newark), and North Ward Center Youth Leadership Development Program. Since 1997, he has served as the Northern Regional Supervisor of the Juvenile Justice Commission’s Office of Juvenile Parole and Transitional Services.

Commissioner Mercado is a former member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Minority Affairs. Additionally, he is the former National Board President and former Rutgers (Beta Chapter) President of Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity, Inc.

He is a former coach of the North Ward Center Little League and Member of the Rutgers University Alumni Association and the National Association of Social Workers. Commissioner Mercado is currently a member of the North Ward Democratic Committee, and for the last 19 years, he has served as District Leader and volunteer.

FREEHOLDER COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS ADVISORY BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS

Phone

(973) 621-4486

Fax

(973) 621-5695

Address

Board of County Commissioners,
County of Essex
465 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Room 558 Hall of Records,
Newark, New Jersey 07102