Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has made her first major cabinet decision by confirming that Jacquelyn A. Suárez will continue to serve as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, reinforcing a message of stability while laying the groundwork for an ambitious affordability and reform agenda.
Suárez, a veteran public servant with more than a decade of experience across multiple levels of state government, will remain at the helm of one of New Jersey’s most influential agencies. The Department of Community Affairs plays a central role in shaping housing policy, municipal finance oversight, and community development initiatives that directly affect residents in every corner of the state.
Under the incoming Sherrill–Caldwell administration, Suárez will be tasked with advancing a sweeping modernization of the department’s operations. Central to that effort will be reforms to the permitting process, a move designed to streamline development timelines, reduce regulatory bottlenecks, and lower project costs for municipalities, nonprofit developers, and private builders alike. The administration has also identified the creation of additional affordable housing, revitalization of underused commercial corridors, and expanded guidance for municipal leaders as priority areas for immediate action.
Sherrill emphasized that Suárez’s record of collaboration with local governments and her leadership in initiatives addressing veteran homelessness and small business development made her the right choice to continue guiding the department. The governor-elect also underscored that the department will pursue broader shared-services strategies, helping towns and counties reduce duplication of services and ease the property tax burden on residents.
Suárez, in accepting the continuation of her role, reiterated her commitment to improving affordability across New Jersey. She signaled that the department will focus on innovative approaches to lowering housing and rental costs, reducing administrative red tape, and supporting entrepreneurs seeking to launch and expand small businesses. She also confirmed that longstanding efforts to eliminate veteran homelessness, including the state’s Bringing Veterans Home initiative, will remain a core mission.
Since assuming leadership of the Department of Community Affairs more than two years ago, Suárez has overseen a workforce of more than 1,000 employees and managed an operational budget exceeding $2 billion. Her tenure has included expanded oversight of municipal finance practices, strengthened compliance frameworks, and increased coordination between state and local governments. She also made history as the first Hispanic commissioner to lead the department.
Before her appointment as commissioner, Suárez served as Director of the Division of Local Government Services and chaired the Local Finance Board, positions that placed her at the center of fiscal policy and municipal accountability. Her earlier roles included associate counsel to the Office of the Governor and legislative liaison for the Department of Community Affairs, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of both policy development and implementation.
A lifelong New Jersey resident, Suárez earned her law degree from Rutgers Law School in Camden and her undergraduate degree from American University in Washington, D.C. She is admitted to practice law in both New Jersey and New York and remains active within the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey.
Coverage of statewide political developments, policy initiatives, and leadership changes can be found in Sunset Daily’s politics section, which continues to track the decisions shaping New Jersey’s future.
With Suárez remaining in place, the Sherrill administration is signaling that experience, continuity, and structural reform will define its early approach, particularly as it seeks to confront the intertwined challenges of housing affordability, municipal efficiency, and economic development across the Garden State.
