He served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1981 to 1989 and in the State Senate from 1989 to 2008, representing the 11th Legislative District.
[2] Before entering politics, Palaia was an educator, and principal of the Wanamassa Elementary School in Ocean Township (Monmouth County) where he resided.
During his tenure as mayor, the Seaview Square Mall was built and the oversaw the township's conversion of the Deal Test Site into a park which was renamed for him in 1998.
[5] He was elected to the State Senate in 1989, defeating the appointed incumbent Democrat John D'Amico, Jr.[7] After taking the office on November 20, he served in a variety of leadership roles.
Together, they had two children: son Joseph Jr. (1959 – 2016),[9] and daughter Denise who has followed her father into education and is principal of Wayside Elementary School.