Chair, Community Services Committee 

Commissioner Claribel Azcona-Barber serves as Chair of the Middlesex County Community Services Committee. She joined the Board of County Commissioners in 2020 and has since focused on advancing initiatives that address the everyday needs of residents, including food security, healthcare access, and community engagement. Her committee oversees a wide range of essential services that support the County’s diverse populations.

Among her key accomplishments is the transformation of MCFOODS into REPLENISH, a food security initiative with a mission-focused identity and expanded community impact. She has led the County’s Behavioral Health initiative, by embracing a community-based approach to mental health, and fostering partnerships across agencies to expand access to resources. Under her leadership, the County has invested in the hiring of Behavioral Health Navigators to provide guidance and find resources for every need, and in 24hr Mental Health Care Kiosks stocked with essential and lifesaving resources.

Commissioner Azcona-Barber played a vital role in ensuring an accurate count during the 2020 Census, helping to secure essential funding and representation for Middlesex County.

Commissioner Azcona-Barber began her public service career in 2000 and has held various roles in state and local government, including as an aide to former Governors James McGreevey and Jon Corzine. She currently works as a management specialist in the New Brunswick Mayor’s Office.

Her civic leadership includes serving on numerous boards such as the New Jersey Optometrists and Cemetery Boards, the New Brunswick Ethics and Planning Boards, and the Puerto Rican Action Board.

Born in El Rubio, Dominican Republic, she immigrated to the U.S. at age 19 and earned her A.A. in Marketing from Middlesex County College.

Commissioner Azcona-Barber proudly resides in New Brunswick with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys supporting local cultural events such as the Middlesex County Flag Raisings and uplifting voices in the Hispanic community.