[1][2] President Clinton nominated Cardell to be EPA Assistant Administrator for Solid Waste and Emergency Response in 1997 but the nomination stalled and he was appointed to HUD instead.

[3] He is currently director of the National Community Development Association.

Previously, he was director of the East Orange Department of Human Resources from 1978 to 1985.

Upsala College awarded him an honorary doctorate degree in 1993.

[1] He is an alumnus of West Side High School in Newark.