Essex will have the most diverse legislative delegation in state history next year

 

 

The last-minute decision of Alixon Collazos-Gill to remain in the 27th district State Assembly race will probably make the Essex County delegation in the next session the most diverse in the state, something that’s connected to the two Essex county chairmen who drew the map,  Democrat LeRoy Jones, Jr. and Republican Al Barlas.

When the next legislative session begins in January, four of the five senators representing Essex will be women: Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), Renee Burgess (D-Irvington), Britnee Timberlake (D-East Orange), and Kristin Corrado (R-Totowa), the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.  Three senators – Ruiz, Burgess, and Timberlake – will be women of color.

Of the ten lower house members representing Essex, eight will likely be people of color, and seven will be women.  Indeed, the Essex delegation will probably have just three white men out of fifteen seats: John McKeon (D-West Orange), who is running for Senate; Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia, who is seeking an Assembly seat, and Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-Wyckoff).

Collazos-Gill was born in Colombia; her new running mate, Livingston Councilwoman Rosaura Bagolie, was born in the Dominican Republic.  This will be the first time Latinas represent two Assembly seats from the same district.  Another incoming freshman, Carmen Morales, will join the Assembly in the 34th district.

“The historic LD-27 Democratic legislative ticket is one I am excited to celebrate, champion, and support.  As our state’s diversity continues to grow, so should our elected representation,” said Laura Matos, the president of the Latina Civic PAC and a member of the Legislative Apportionment Commission.  “My vote in support of the new legislative map was a first step I was incredibly proud of and I am excited to support John McKeon, Alixon Collazos-Gill, and Rosaura Bagolie in our ongoing fight to make a better New Jersey for now and years to come.”

Republicans have also fielded a diverse ticket from the 40th district, including seven Essex County towns: a woman senator and Barlas, a Muslim born in Pakistan.

The delegation will also include Assembly Budget Committee Chair Eliana Mintor-Marin (D-Newark), the only Portuguese American legislator, and three Black women: incumbents Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), Shanique Speight (D-Newark) and Garnet Hall, the deputy Essex County Clerk and Maplewood Democratic municipal vice chair, who is expected to replace Mila Jasey (D-South Orange) in the 28th.

None of the races in Essex County are competitive in general elections – another possible accomplishment for Jones and Barlas.