PRESS ROOM WPC-NJ In the News Photo Gallery Press Releases FAQ's WPC-NJ In the News • THE STAR-LEDGER The Auditor Sunday, September 30, 2007 Click here to read the article • THE TRENTON TIMES Female political leaders honored Award honors female leaders Wednesday, March 22, 2006 By CHRIS STURGIS Special to The Times TRENTON -- Jeannine LaRue, deputy chief of staff to Gov. Jon Corzine, and Republican former Assemblywoman Rose Heck are the 2006 recipients of the Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award for Leaders with Vision. LaRue and Heck were honored at a dinner Monday at the Trenton Marriott at Lafayette Yard hotel for being effective leaders in the male-dominated world of politics. Patrizia Zita, chairwoman of the Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey's Political Action Committee, described both recipients as effective leaders who get their way through charm. Heck would wear a "very sweet smile" while explaining that she "thought you were completely wrong, that she completely disagreed with you, but she would take everything you said into account when she made her decision." "And, somehow, you would believe her," Zita said. She also described LaRue as "strong-willed and determined, but she goes about it in such a kind and general way," she said. The award is named in memory of the late Barbara Boggs Sigmund, who died in 1990, a transplanted southerner who led by persuasion and charm while Democratic mayor of Princeton Borough. Zita said the purpose of the event was to raise campaign money so more women can be elected. New Jersey is below average in the number of female state legislators, ranking 31st among the 50 states, up from 39th in 2005. Of New Jersey's 120 seats, 23 (19.2 percent) are held by women in the current Legislature. Of those, 16 -- 11 Democrats and five Republicans -- are in the 80-seat Assembly and seven -- five Democrats and two Republicans -- are in the 40-seat Senate. LaRue, a Trenton resident, was senior vice president of the Office of Governmental Affairs at Saint Barnabas Health Care System, where she had worked since 1997. She was also a co-chairwoman for the Corzine Connection in the recent gubernatorial campaign. She recently received the Kountz Heritage Award of Excellence at New Jersey Organ and Tissue Sharing Network's Heritage Awards. LaRue was introduced by Annette Catino, president and Chief Executive Officer of QualCare. "A leader is a dealer in hope, and Jeannine is the greatest dealer in hope there ever was," Catino said. LaRue said she developed her skills -- the most important of which is not making things more complicated than they need be -- by being a mother. "I keep it real. That's why the governor and I get along so well," she said. Heck of Hasbrouck Heights was praised for her service to the people of the 38th Legislature District and her service on the Assembly Advisory Council on Women. She was praised for holding hearings that led to a law guaranteeing mothers a miniumum hospital stay of 48 hours after giving birth. • Courier-News November 2, 2005 Getting elected: Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey opens new chapter By WALTER O'BRIEN Correspondent The Somerset/Hunterdon chapter of the Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey hosted a breakfast Oct. 14 at Bridgewater Manor, featuring Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Eagleton Institute. The event also introduced a number of women candidates for municipal and state offices in Somerset and Hunterdon counties. The Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey, an affiliate of the National Women's Political Caucus, is a multi-partisan organization dedicated to increasing the number of progressive women in elected and appointed positions in government, protecting reproductive freedom and promoting equal rights for women. "We are just in the process of forming the Somerset/Hunterdon caucus, so this was our kickoff meeting," said chapter organizer Rebecca Perkins. Perkins is president and CEO of The Perkins Partnership, a public policy consultancy firm in the biomedical research and pharmaceutical fields, with offices in Warren and Washington, DC. "The meeting went well, and everyone was pleased with Debbie Walsh's talk," Perkins said. "It's always hard to find the perfect time for everyone; they're either working or campaigning." Fanwood Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D) of Legislative District 22 attended the meeting, as did two assembly candidates for the 23rd district, Hunterdon County Freeholder Marcia A. Karrow (R), and Clinton Township Committee member Janice Kovach (D). Several municipal candidates also attended the event, but for the most part, the group consisted of women who have never held political office, but wish to be more involved in the political process. According to Perkins, New Jersey has ranked 41st out of 50 states in women office-holders in the state legislature. That ranking had not increased for nearly a century, since the 1920s, but it has just moved up to 37th, tied with Indiana. "Residents of New Jersey are represented in Congress by two Senators and 13 Representatives, but not one woman," Perkins said. "There are so many talented women on boards, in business and serving on political commissions. It's a vast, untapped resource for the state, and we want to bring these women into the political process as committee persons, candidates for any number of elected offices or boards of education." The state chapter of the Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey supports assembly and state office candidates, finding volunteers for campaigns and endorsing candidates. When you join the state organization, you become a member of the national group as well, and you choose your county chapter to stay informed of functions and events. "It's often very difficult for women to gain office," said Perkins. "It's hard enough to get into office in places like Somerset or Hunterdon counties as a Republican. As a Democrat, you can probably get yourself on the ballot, but it's an uphill fight to actually get elected." Whether a woman's electability or viability as a candidate is an issue because of party label, Perkins feels that women often end up on the bottom of the list. There are certainly women on town councils around the state, but it's rare to find a council with a majority of women. "We want to make women become more aware of what they need to do to become a candidate, and to help them take those steps," Perkins said. "We're holding a seminar early next year to help teach women how to become candidates, how to raise money, how to work with their party - basically Campaign 101. It will be in plenty of time for the next primary and general elections." The group also plans to host a holiday party in December to recognize all the women elected in the Nov. 8 election. -from the Courier News website www.c-n.com More Information Facts: IF YOU WANT TO GO WHAT: Somerset/Hunterdon chapter of Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey CONTACT: Rebecca Perkins, 50 Casale Drive South, Warren PHONE: (908) 580-0946 WEB: www.perkinspartnership.com WHAT: Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey WHERE: 16 South Ave. W., Suite 184, Cranford, NJ 07016 PHONE: (973) 598-1999 WEB: www.wpcnj.org • Women's Fund of New Jersey E-Update! August 2005 Check out these upcoming events! Interested in Networking? Join us for a Women's Networking Party. Learn more about WFNJ and make new contacts! Networking Party in Montville! Join us for Cocktails and Hors d'Oeuvres at the Home of Dr. Marj Steinfeld in Montville on Tuesday, September 20th at 6pm. For Directions or more information, please e-mail Bonne at bonne@wfnj.org. Future Networking parties to be held in South Orange, Princeton and Bergen County. Call us at any time for event information! 908-851-7774 Champion of Choice Awards - Sunday, October 2nd, 2005 NARAL Pro-Choice New Jersey is hosting a Champion of Choice Award breakfast on Sunday, October 2nd from 9am to 11am at The Hilton, 3 Tower Center Blvd., East Brunswick, NJ. The award recipient is Susan Bass Levin, Former Commissioner of Community Affairs. The keynote speaker is Senator Jon S. Corzine, New Jersey Senator. To order tickets, please contact Deborah Hurley at (973) 483-4020 or Deborah@hurleyjones.com or visit NARAL's website. Welcome to our Newest Member Organization! The Education & Training Fund of the Women's Political Caucus • There are no women in New Jersey's congressional delegation. • NJ ranks 41st in the country in the number of women in the state Legislature. • There are only 19 women currently serving in the legislature. • That is less than 16 % of the available seats. • In 2005, we have about the same percentage of women serving in our legislature as we did in 1927. • 57% of people who vote are women. The Education and Training Fund of the Women's Political Caucus educates the public about the need for increasing the number of women in elected and appointed office. They also advocate on issues that support women and families and sponsor training for prospective candidates. The president of the Women's Political Caucus, Barbara Sussman Goldberg, describes this organization as a "multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing women's participation in the political process." She points out that the "Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey is committed to the election and appointment of women to every level of government." The Women's Political Caucus has a fundraising arm, but the Education and Training Fund has the distinct privilege of solely working on the education and training of future female politicians. The mission of this organization is to raise awareness of women candidates who support reproductive freedom, the Equal Rights Amendment and other issues that affect the lives of women and families. If you would like more information on the Women's Political Caucus Education and Training Fund, please visit their website: www.wpcnj.org or call them at: 973-598-1999. Women's Fund of New Jersey, 355 Chestnut Street, Union, NJ, 07083 It's Silent Auction Time! Our 11th Annual Fall Gala is being held on Thursday, November 10th at 6pm at The Palace in Somerset Park. We are honoring "Women for Achievement in the New Jersey Legislature". We are hoping for our biggest and best silent auction ever this year. To do that, we need everyone's help! Please consider a donation to our auction that can include but is not limited to: Artwork, services, gift certificates, books, vacation homes, sporting goods, weekend retreats, gift baskets, dinner-for-two, professional consultations, house parties, craft items, and any other creative contributions valued above $100. Dinners for two below the monetary value of $50 will be grouped together. We need to collect the items before October 15, 2005 in order to prepare a description, value and presentation style for the auction. Proceeds from your contribution go to support the Women's Fund of New Jersey, a coalition of seventeen non-profit women's organizations supporting more than 320,000 women and families throughout the state. You will need two forms if you are collecting items from merchants, which we can e- mail to you at your convenience. Contact Bonne O'Flanagan at bonne@wfnj.org Email: bonne@wfnj.org Visit: http://www.wfnj.org Call: 908-851-7774 • Courier News Online - Women's political caucus seeks membership • Women Leaders Endorse Loretta Weinberg for State Senate New Jersey's Foremost Advocate for Women and Families wins Bi-partisan Support for Candidacy Photo Gallery
Press Releases 11/8/07 - Election Day 2007 was a landmark day for New Jersey and for the Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey. Read full article 11/13/07 - Honorees Bring Passion, Power, and Progress to Equal Rights for Women. Read full article FAQ's How do I join WPC-NJ? WPC-NJ membership is open to women and men who support the WPC-NJ mission and activities. Membership levels range from $35 to $250 annually (see Membership) and include memberships in National Women's Political Caucus and WPC-NJ county chapters. Can I join WPC-NJ if I'm not elected to any office, or involved in a political organization? WPC-NJ is open to all who believe that women should have a voice in our political system. Many of our members are elected, or would like to hold office, while others have no interest in running themselves. Our members are Republicans, Democrats, and unaffiliated voters. Some are active in their party organizations, and others choose to become active primarily through WPC-NJ. What kind of organization is WPC-NJ? WPC-NJ is registered with the State of New Jersey as a 501 (c) 4 organization. WPC-NJ also has a 501 (c) 3 Education and Training Fund, as well as a registered PAC. Why should I join WPC-NJ? WPC-NJ is the only multi-partisan organization that represents progressive, pro-choice women in New Jersey. Membership in WPC-NJ offers you the opportunity to meet others who share your views and, through the organization, to have a voice in New Jersey's political process. How many women hold office in New Jersey? Although women make up more than half of New Jersey's population, they currently hold only 18.2 percent of the seats in New Jersey's Assembly and Senate. No women currently serve in New Jersey's Congressional delegation, and no woman has ever been elected to the Senate from New Jersey. |
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