When Robert W. Kean of Livingston stepped down as Essex County Republican Chairman in 1962, he supported Axtell to succeed him.
[2] Governor William Cahill appointed Axtell to serve as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 1972.
During the 1973 campaign, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brendan Byrne criticized Axtell for pushing to increase PATH fares.
The audit revealed that the officials flew first class to Europe, Asia and Africa on trips organized by World Trade Center executive Guy F.
Born in Australia and raised in Ohio, Axtell was the President of the Essex Welding Equipment Company.