By Marie Pfeifer
Wednesday was a night to remember for Alison Deeb at the Morristown Club. The Republican councilwoman from the Fourth Ward announced her candidacy for a third term, while honoring significant women in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Oh, and it was her last night with Tim, the black Lab puppy she has been raising for The Seeing Eye Inc.
There was some historical significance to staging this event at The Morristown Club, which revised its bylaws in 1983 to include women members. The first ladies elected to membership were Rep. Millicent Fenwick and state Sen. Josephine Margetts.
“Public office is a calling for me,” said Deeb, who has a masters degree in public administration and has volunteered for charitable and community causes her entire life. “It’s a labor of love, and I love Morristown,” she said.
Times have changed since her first campaign 10 years ago. She raised $500 for that one; Wednesday’s event brought in $5,000, she said. Guests paid $100 to attend, and sponsors paid $250.
Deeb, the council’s lone Republican, said she strives to serve her constituency by continuing to learn about best practices in government. In keeping with the evening’s theme, she shared these facts about women in public office:
- New Jersey has sent five women to the U.S. House but no women to the U.S. Senate.
- In 2010, Kim Guadagno became the state’s first lieutenant governor. She was re-elected in 2013.
- Christine Todd Whitman, New Jersey’s first woman governor, served from 1994 to 2001.
- Governor Christie has seven women in his 23-member cabinet. That’s 30 percent.
- In 2014, 36 women served in the state legislature, holding hold 30 percent of the available 120 seats. Nationally, women hold 24 percent of all state legislative seats; New Jersey ranks 10th among the 50 states in the proportion of women serving in its legislature.
- In 2014, 32 (23 percent) of the 137 county freeholders in New Jersey were women. Morris County’s Freeholder Director is Kathy DeFillippo.
- In 2014, 23 women served as elected constitutional officers, holding 35 percent of the 65 available positions. Morris County’s county clerk is Ann Grossi.
- Morris County has three women mayors, up from two last year. This represents 8 percent of the county’s 39 municipalities. Morristown has never had a woman mayor.
On that note, Deeb speculated that she might consider running in a few years when the position is up for re-election.
Eight years ago, Deeb reminisced, Rebecca Feldman, Raline Smith-Reid and herself all won local ward seats. Along with at-large Councilwoman Michelle Dupree Harris, they formed the town’s first female quorum.
Deeb thanked a slew of women honorees for their commitment to the Morris area, and for their support. She praised Morris Township Committeewoman Louise Johnson and Chatham Township Committeewoman Karen Swartz for their perseverance in close, contentious races last year.
She described Alice Cutler, interim director of Morristown’s Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, and former state Sen. Leanna Brown as role models.
Photos by Marie Pfeifer. Please click icon below for captions.
Brown was a trailblazer, Deeb said, paving the way for women to follow their hearts and become involved in government.
“I am so honored to have met you, as you have been a mentor to me for the last 10 years,” said the councilwoman, citing Brown’s energy, conviction, intelligence, and courage.
Brown served on the Chatham Borough council from 1969 to 1972; and as a Morris County Freeholder from 1972 to 1980. In 1976, she became the first Freeholder director. She represented District 24 in the Assembly from 1980 to 1983; and was a state Senator from 1984 to 1993, rising to Assistant Majority Leader.
She finished her government career as a commissioner on the NJ Casino Control Commission, from 1993 to 1999. She also chaired Brown Global Enterprises LLC, and writes a newspaper column.
Wednesday’s honorees also included Assemblywoman Nancy F. Munoz, former Mountain Lakes Mayor Blair Schleicher Bravo; Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi, Morris Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo, Morris Plains Councilwoman Suzanne McCluskey, Summit Mayor Ellen Dickson, and Former Madison Mayor Mary-Anna Holden.
Guests included Assemblyman Anthony Bucco (R-25th Dist.), Morristown Council President Rebecca Feldman, Morristown Councilwoman Michelle Dupree Harris, Morristown Republican Party Chair Frank Vitolo, Morristown Planning Board members Joe Kane and Debra Gottsleben, Pastor Sidney Williams Jr. of Bethel AME Church, Chester Mayor Janet Hoven and Denville Councilwoman Deb Smith.
Deeb also did some campaigning for Women On 20s, an organization that is lobbying to put a woman’s face on U.S. currency.
