JERSEY CITY – The city council of Jersey city has unanimously approved the appointment of Eduardo Tolosa, a Filipino American, as lifetime chief assessor of the city. “Ed did a great job in the city. When he came to the U.S. in 1981, Ed immediately worked in the City Hall and started as a cashier. Everyone praised his work as he was promoted as chief assessor,” said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy in a ceremony at Fiesta Grill recently. Toloza took his oath of office before Healy. Attending the solemn ceremony was his wife, Didi, and their three children.

"I promise to build on the trust. I believe that public service is noble and a necessary cause. I will redouble my efforts by upholding the strongest ethical standards," said Toloza, who is the first Filipino American to hold the post. Tolosa, from Pampanga, is a graduate of the University of Sto. Thomas in 1976 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1981. He immediately worked as a cashier at the City Hall while taking up a master’s degree in management at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. In 1983, he was promoted to accountant and later as assistant municipal tax collector. He was appointed as an assessor?s aide in 1991 and became assistant assessor in 1997. Due to his competence, talent, and strong work ethics, he was chosen as the city’s chief assessor in 2002.