FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi
March 20, 2012 973-621-2542
Lauren Shears
973-621-1590
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO HOSTS
ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTY IRISH HERITAGE CELEBRATION
Governor’s Chief of Staff Kevin O’Dowd
Receives Irishman of the Year Award
Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray
Receives Irishwoman of the Year Award
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. hosted the 9th Annual Essex County Irish Heritage Celebration on Tuesday, March 20th. During the afternoon ceremony, the County Executive presented Kevin O’Dowd, Chief of Staff to Governor Chris Christie, with the 2012 Essex County Irishman of the Year Award and Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray with the 2012 Essex County Irishwoman of the Year Award. The Irish Heritage event recognizes the impact Irish men and women have had on the cultural, civic, political, law enforcement and economic history of the County.
“As I travel throughout New Jersey, I constantly tell people that Essex County’s strength is our diversity. Highlighting the contributions that each ethnicity has made to our culture, economy and history helps create a better understanding of each other and develops a sense of community,” DiVincenzo said. “Kevin O’Dowd and Carolyn A. Murray are two individuals who have helped shape the quality of life in New Jersey through their legal and civic work,” he added.
Kevin O’Dowd currently serves as Chief of Staff to Governor Chris Christie. Prior to this position, he was the Deputy Chief Counsel to Governor Chris Christie since January of 2010. As Deputy Chief Counsel, O'Dowd was Governor Christie's lead negotiator with the New Jersey State Legislature and supervised the day-to-day operations of the Office of Counsel to the Governor.
Prior to joining the Christie Administration, O’Dowd served as the Chief of the Securities and Healthcare Fraud Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. During the seven years he served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, O’Dowd prosecuted various crimes ranging from complex healthcare, securities and financial fraud matters to international child pornography distribution, cyber and narcotics prosecutions. During his time at the United States Department of Justice, O'Dowd received numerous awards and honors from a host of federal law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Secret Service. O'Dowd was twice awarded the prestigious Integrity Award from the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Award for Excellence from the United States President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency.
Before joining the U.S. Attorney's Office in 2003, O’Dowd spent the previous five years serving as a Deputy Attorney General in the Department of Law & Public Safety and an Assistant Counsel in the Office of Counsel to the Governor. O’Dowd received his B.A. from The Catholic University of America and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.
“I want to thank and acknowledge the County Executive. Getting this award is special to me because I am returning to Newark where I began my career. I also want to thank my parents for raising me with a work ethic and discipline that has helped me achieve my goals and my wife for her continuous support and always allowing me to serve,” said O’Dowd.
Carolyn A. Murray returned to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office when she was sworn in as Acting Essex County Prosecutor on February 22, 2011. She had left the Office for about a year when Governor Chris Christie appointed her Counsel to former Attorney General Paula Dow. As Counsel to the Attorney General, she was responsible for oversight of several divisions of the Attorney General’s Office including the Division of Criminal Justice, Division on Civil Rights, the Juvenile Justice Commission, and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. She served in the executive office of the Attorney General and advised the Attorney General on legal, policy and administrative matters, with an emphasis on matters relevant to the criminal justice system.
Prosecutor Murray has a long standing history of service in Essex County, having served for over 14 years in the Prosecutor’s Office. She served as Assistant Prosecutor from 1988 until 1995, where she was first-chair trial counsel in more than 80 criminal jury trials before the Superior Court including homicide, sexual assault, child abuse and aggravated assault cases. In 1995, she joined the United States Attorney’s Office as Assistant U.S. Attorney where she participated in all aspects of the prosecution of federal criminal cases including investigation, Grand Jury presentation, and trial. She served as first-chair trial counsel in several federal criminal trials. Her experience includes large narcotics wiretap investigations, coordination of multi-agency enforcement initiatives, and service as Violent Crime Coordinator and in 2002 she was named Chief of the Public Prosecution Unit.
Prosecutor Murray returned to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in 2003, when she was appointed Counsel to the Acting Prosecutor and in 2004, she was named First Assistant Prosecutor with then Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow. As First Assistant Prosecutor, Murray was directly responsible to the Essex County Prosecutor for the administration of a staff of approximately 140 Assistant Prosecutors, 150 detectives, and 120 support staff. She supervised the investigation, charging, and prosecution of more than 10,000 criminal felony, juvenile, and remanded misdemeanor cases per year.
Prosecutor Murray began her career with the law firm of Tompkins, McGuire & Wachenfeld in Newark after graduation from law school. Prosecutor Murray received her Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University and her Juris Doctorate degree from New York University School of Law.
“Thank you, County Executive, for this forum. I see the value of coming together to celebrate these honors. In Essex County, we talk about celebrating our diversity because our diversity truly is our strength,” said Murray. “It is with great pride that I accept this award and I want to thank the County Executive and the Board of Chosen Freeholders for this great honor and for the opportunity to serve Essex County,” she added.
The entertainment was provided by Ceili Country and Jack McGarry of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Essex County’s Annual Irish Heritage Celebration is one of several cultural observances hosted by the Essex County Executive and the Essex County Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action. The events are held to raise awareness about the rich ethnic diversity and backgrounds of County employees.