E. Marie Hayes was first sworn into office on February 1, 2013 to fill an unexpired term on the Commissioner Board, then re-elected in 2013, 2016 and 2019 and will serve until December 31, 2022. As Commissioner, she is the director of Transportation overseeing the Board of Elections, Fare Free Transportation, Library, Park/Zoo, Surrogate and Tax Board. She is Commissioner Liaison to the Women’s Commission, Library Commission, Park Advisory Board, ACCC School of Estimate, Special Services and Technical School Board of Estimate and the Jersey Shore Partnership. Commissioner Hayes is the Past Vice President of the New Jersey Association of Counties and the Past Vice President of the Southern New Jersey Commissioners Association. She also represents the Board of the County Chamber of Commerce and the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

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In the late 1970’s, Freeholder Hayes was hired by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office as an Investigator. During the majority of her career, she was assigned to Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Investigations. Freeholder Hayes rose through the ranks being promoted to Sergeant of Detectives, Lieutenant of Detectives and retiring as Captain of Detectives in 2009. She also served as the Vice President of PBA Local 59. She also served as president for two terms to the Mid-Atlantic Association of Women in Law Enforcement (MAAWLE), an organization of Police Women serving the east coast.

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Commissioner Hayes received her Associate Degree from Atlantic Cape Community College, where she also was an Adjunct Professor teaching Criminal Investigation. She received a Bachelor Degree in Human Services, with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Thomas Edison State College and is a 1996 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

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Commissioner Hayes received the Woman of Wonder award in 2016 and the prestigious Boy Scouts of America Woman of Achievement Award in 2018. She was honored by Atlantic Cape Community College as one of the Alumni of the Year in 2019 and was asked to be the commencement speaker at the 2019 graduation ceremony. In June of 2019, she received an award from Women United Power of the Purse. In 2021, Commissioner Hayes received Commissioner of the Year from the New Jersey Association of County Commissioners.

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Commissioner Hayes is active in the community where she resides with her husband Lloyd of 40 years. She has two grown daughters Danielle and Megan, a grown son Henry Lloyd, a son-in-law Vince and six grandchildren. She is also the proud sister of 4 brothers all Veterans having served in the Navy, Air Force and Army. Her husband Lloyd is also a Navy veteran.