Commissioner Karen Haggerty

Commissioner of Public Affairs

Karen Haggerty is a lifelong resident of Lyndhurst. She has worked for the State of New Jersey for more than 30 years and is currently a supervisor.

Elected to the Township Commission in 2017, Haggerty was the first woman to win a seat on the commission in 24 years.

As a Commissioner, she has headed the Public Affairs Department and worked diligently to support her staff to improve the Health Department, focusing on increasing donations to the town Food Bank and helping to provide provisions to residents who are suffering as a result of the pandemic.  At the onset of the pandemic, Haggerty and her staff had developed a vaccination site plan and continues to advocate to the county and state officials for the Township.  Additionally, Haggerty also heads the Construction Department and has a strong interest in fighting illegal housing in the Township, which contributes to the taxing of municipal services and a negative impact on the overall quality of life within the community.

Haggerty maintains an active role in overseeing development in the Meadowlands, concentrating on job creation for local residents as well as supporting commercial development that brings tax revenue to the Township. Realizing that Township services and infrastructure cannot support additional residential housing in the Meadowlands, her focus has been on ensuring that future development aligns with the needs of the Township. Commissioner Haggerty also has served on the Planning Board since 2017.

Karen is the wife and mother of law enforcement officers and local volunteer firefighters with a combined 74 years of service to the Township. Her husband, although retired from law enforcement, continues to volunteer for the community. Haggerty’s sons, are both law enforcement officers and members of the Township’s all volunteer fire department.  Karen is a member of the Bergen County 200 Club which supports first responders and their families.