In 1988 Commissioner Fiordaliso was elected to the Livingston Township Council and served for three terms, and was elected Mayor three times during his tenure. In 1990 he was appointed by the Essex County Executive to serve as the Director of Planning and Economic Development. He has worked extensively with the New Jersey Democratic State Committee and served as District Director for Senate President Richard Codey. Commissioner Fiordaliso was named Deputy Chief of Staff in Governor Codey's Office on November 15, 2004. He serves on the Board of Trustees of Essex County College. In 2003 he was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Livingston Chapter of Unico National. In 2005 Joe was nominated by Governor Richard Codey, confirmed by the Senate, and in 2011 was re-nominated by Governor Chris Christie, confirmed by the Senate, to be a Commissioner on the Board of Public Utilities, where he currently serves.
Commissioner Fiordaliso is married to the former Marilyn Morey and they reside in Livingston, N.J. They have two children, Joe and Dana, and four grandchildren.