Carlos Pomares

Carlos M. Pomares was born and raised in Hudson County, NJ, where he attended St. Peter Prep. He continued his education at Caldwell University, earning a BA in History while receiving awards for his work at the President Grover Cleveland Birthplace historic site. He later earned his MA in Museum Professions at Seton Hall University. He has diligently served numerous museums including King Manor Museum, Waterloo Foundation for the Arts, the NYC Police Museum, the Montclair Historical Society and others. He has also served as an adjunct professor of history and political science and as a consultant for non-profit organizations.

In 2013 Pomares was elected as Councilman At-Large in Bloomfield where he was instrumental in the creation of the Morris Canal Greenway in Bloomfield, notably with the creation of Canal Park at Oak Tree Lane. He also initiated the restoration of the historic Collins House and the development of the Morris Canal Greenway finder signs. In 2017, he was elected to the first of three terms on the Essex County Board of Commissioners representing District 5 (Belleville, Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Montclair and Nutley). He served as the first Hispanic Vice President of the Board from 2021-2024. In 2025, Pomares elected President of the Essex County Board of Commissioners, the first Hispanic to hold the office and continues to serve in that capacity. He is noted for his strong advocacy in the arts, historic preservation, and education, which reflect many of the defining attributes of his professional career.

Highlights:

• Supported significant improvements to Essex County's Vocational Schools and Essex County College, including new buildings and technology.

• Supported improvements to our nationally recognized County Parks System, award-winning Turtle Back Zoo and three recently renovated golf courses which help raise revenue for County operations.

• Helped to initiate the County's highly successful Free TNVR Cat Spay/Neuter services (trap-neuter/spay - vaccinate - release) done collaboratively with Associated Humane Societies and CPAW NJ

• Supports Countywide Complete Streets Policy

• Supported millions of dollars of county road and intersection improvements

• Supported and participated in 100+ food drives since Covid

• Supported the County & Statewide leading response to the Covid pandemic with testing and vaccination sites.

• Initiated the Morris Canal Greenway efforts in Essex County, including the restoration of the historic Collins House, preservation of Morris Canal waterway remnants into Canal Park at Oak Tree Lane (Bloomfield), intiating with Wayfinder signs in Bloomfield, assisting with marker signs in Belleville in collaboration with Green Belleville Association