Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-31) and Jersey City Councilwoman-at-Large Joyce Watterman endorsed Rebecca Symes, Mira Prinz-Arey and Denise Ridley in their respective council runoff races.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I know Denise, Mira and Rebecca not just as candidates for office, but as leaders in our community who have done the hard work to help people in need,” said McKnight.
“I am so proud to support these three women and encourage everyone in their wards to come out and support women leaders in the runoff election on Tuesday, December 5.”
On Tuesday, Ridley faces off with Joe Conte in Ward A, Prinz-Arey takes on Ward B Councilman Chris Gadsden and Symes goes head-to-head with James Solomon in Ward E at the polls.
According to a study by the Center for American Women and Politics, part of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, Hudson County ranks in the bottom five for women in local elected office with only 15.66 percent representation.
“Jersey City has an opportunity to elect four women to the City Council for the first time this year and I am so excited about the possibility of Denise, Mira and Rebecca joining me on the governing body,” add Councilwoman Watterman, who was re-elected earlier this month.
“I believe strongly that we need more women in leadership and we can take a major step toward equal representation by electing these outstanding leaders on Tuesday.”
Symes has racked up endorsements from elected officials this week, with Watterman being the fourth sitting member of the council supporting her candidacy overall.
The event was also attended by community and business leaders including Lynn Hazan, founder of the popular website ChicpeaJC, Democratic committee members Anne Villers and Jan Nordland, Kendal Ridgeway, owner of local business K9dergarden, community activist Annie Kessler, former school board member Sonia Araujo, and Subia’s Cafe owners Nilsa and Yvonne Rodriguez, – who hosted the candidates.
